Ureotelic animals

Options

A. Lack urease
B. Do not excrete urea
C. cannot form uric acid
D. Live in water

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution for the Question on Ureotelic Animals

1. **Understanding Ureotelic Animals**:
- Ureotelic animals are those that excrete urea as their primary nitrogenous waste product. This is a form of excretion that is more efficient in terms of water conservation compared to ammonia excretion.

2. **Metabolic Process**:
- In these animals, ammonia, which is a toxic byproduct of protein metabolism, is converted into urea in the liver. This conversion is crucial because ammonia is highly toxic and needs to be eliminated quickly.

3. **Role of Urease**:
- Ureotelic animals lack the enzyme urease. Urease is responsible for breaking down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Since ureotelic animals do not have this enzyme, they do not convert urea back into ammonia, allowing them to safely excrete urea.

4. **Comparison with Other Excretion Types**:
- Other types of nitrogenous waste excretion include ammonotelic (excreting ammonia) and uricotelic (excreting uric acid). Ureotelic animals are typically found in terrestrial environments where water conservation is important.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the information, the correct answer to the question regarding ureotelic animals is that they "lack urease." This distinguishes them from other organisms that can convert urea back into ammonia.