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Difficulty: MediumExcretion and Excretory Organs

An unidentified terrestrial invertebrate specimen possesses an alimentary canal into which blind-ending tubules discharge nitrogenous waste in the form of uric acid crystals. Which combination correctly identifies the organism group and its primary excretory structure?

  1. Insects, using Malpighian tubulesAnswer
  2. B
    Annelids, using flame cells
  3. C
    Flatworms, using nephridia
  4. D
    Crustaceans, using contractile vacuoles

Answer

Insects, using Malpighian tubules
Insects use Malpighian tubules, which extend into the hemolymph to collect nitrogenous wastes and empty them directly into the digestive tract where water is reabsorbed, leaving uric acid.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the description of the excretory mechanism given in the stem.
The organism excretes solid uric acid through blind-ending tubules attached to the alimentary canal.
Uric acid precipitation minimizes water loss in terrestrial habitats, a feature of uricotelic arthropods.
2
Match the excretory structure and waste type to the correct taxonomic group.
Malpighian tubules in insects extract nitrogenous wastes from hemolymph and empty into the midgut/hindgut junction.
Insects are terrestrial arthropods adapted to conserve water by eliminating uric acid via Malpighian tubules.

Key Concept

Excretory structures across invertebrate phyla
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Excretion and Excretory Organs

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