Ammonia is likely to be the primary nitrogenous waste in living conditions that include

A) lots of fresh water flowing across the gills of a fish.

B) lots of seawater, such as a bird living in a marine environment.

C) lots of seawater, such as a marine mammal (e. g., a polar bear).

D) a terrestrial environment, such as that supporting crickets.

E) a moist system of burrows, such as those of naked mole rats.

Question

Biology

Oswaldo Mccullough

15 August, 17:36

Ammonia is likely to be the primary nitrogenous waste in living conditions that include

A) lots of fresh water flowing across the gills of a fish.

B) lots of seawater, such as a bird living in a marine environment.

C) lots of seawater, such as a marine mammal (e. g., a polar bear).

D) a terrestrial environment, such as that supporting crickets.

E) a moist system of burrows, such as those of naked mole rats.

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Answers (1)

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Wilkerson · Answer 1

The correct answer is: A) lots of fresh water flowing across the gills of a fish.

Nitrogenous wastes, formed by the breakdown of proteins and nucleic acids (both contain nitrogen in their structure) tend to form toxic ammonia. Since it is toxic and raises the pH of body fluids it requires ATP and large quantities of fresh water to dilute it out of a biological system. So, only aquatic animals tend to release ammonia into the water (terrestrial animals release urea or ureic acid). Animals that excrete ammonia are said to be ammonotelic.