ammoniotele

Ammoniotele is a term used in biology to describe animals that excrete nitrogenous waste primarily in the form of ammonia. These animals are typically aquatic, as ammonia is highly toxic and needs to be diluted in large quantities of water to be safely expelled. Fish are a prime example of ammoniotele organisms. They excrete ammonia directly into the surrounding water, often through their gills. This metabolic strategy is energy-efficient because the conversion of ammonia to less toxic forms like urea or uric acid requires significant energy expenditure. However, it is only feasible for organisms living in environments where water is readily available for dilution. Amphibians, in their larval stage (tadpoles), are also ammoniotele. As they metamorphose into terrestrial adults, they typically shift to excreting urea, a less toxic compound that requires less water for excretion. The presence of ammonia as the primary nitrogenous waste product is a key characteristic that defines ammoniotele animals within the broader classification of nitrogenous waste excretors.