Adaptations to a Terrestrial Existence by the Robber Crab, Birgus Latro L. Iii. Nitrogenous Excretion
نویسندگان
چکیده
Nitrogenous excretion by the terrestrial anomuran crab Birgus latro L. was examined. The main excretory product was uric acid, representing 79-5 % of total excretory nitrogen. It was eliminated as white faeces separate from undigested food material and made up 82-6% of excretory faecal nitrogen. The faeces were the principal route of nitrogenous excretion, accounting for 96-2% of total excretion. Loss of nitrogen in the urine and as gaseous ammonia was negligible. The midgut gland had substantial activity of xanthine oxidase and was considered to be the site of production of uric acid and its point of entry into the gut.
منابع مشابه
Adaptations to a terrestrial existence in the robber crab Birgus latro L. IX. Hormonal control of post-renal urine reprocessing and salt balance in the branchial chamber.
The terrestrial robber crab Birgus latro L. regulates the composition of its final excretory product (termed P) depending on the availability of dietary salt by reabsorbing ions from urine passed over the gills. Laboratory and field-based studies investigated the nature of the mechanisms of control of this branchial ion uptake. B. latro were prepared such that their branchial chambers could be ...
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