Ammonioteliske

Ammonioteliske refers to organisms that excrete nitrogenous waste primarily in the form of ammonia. This method of waste disposal is most common in aquatic animals, as ammonia is highly soluble in water and can be easily diluted and excreted. The process is efficient for these animals because they live in an environment where large quantities of water are readily available for dilution.

Ammonia is a highly toxic compound, and its buildup in the body can be detrimental. Aquatic organisms, such as fish, have gills that allow for the direct diffusion of ammonia from their blood into the surrounding water. This constant flushing out of ammonia prevents its accumulation to toxic levels. The high water content of their bodies also facilitates this process.

In contrast, terrestrial animals typically cannot afford to lose large amounts of water for waste excretion. Therefore, they have evolved more water-efficient methods. For example, ureotelic animals, like mammals and amphibians, convert ammonia into urea, which is less toxic and requires less water for excretion. Uricotelic animals, such as birds and reptiles, convert ammonia into uric acid, a semi-solid paste that requires very little water. Ammoniotely is considered the most primitive and energetically cheapest form of nitrogenous waste excretion, as it involves minimal metabolic processing of the ammonia.