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Question #46176
The Question
Analyze the following statements regarding the evolutionary adaptations for osmoregulation and nitrogenous waste excretion in aquatic vertebrates. Which statement is INCORRECT?
Options
- A.
Marine cartilaginous fishes retain high concentrations of urea in their body fluids to maintain an osmolarity slightly hypertonic to surrounding seawater.
- B.
Freshwater bony fishes are primarily ammonotelic and excrete large volumes of dilute urine to counter continuous osmotic water influx.
- C.
To prevent the denaturing effect of high urea concentrations, marine teleosts accumulate Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) as a chemical chaperone in their blood.
- D.
Most marine bony fishes are ammonotelic and compensate for osmotic water loss by drinking seawater and actively excreting monovalent ions through their gills.
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Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Chondrichthyes|Nitrogenous_Waste_Classification|Urea_Retention
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Taxonomic distinction in osmoregulatory strategies.
Students often conflate the adaptations of marine Osteichthyes (bony fishes) with marine Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes).
The trap relies on the student missing the word 'teleosts' in an otherwise physiologically accurate description of elasmobranch urea-TMAO osmoregulation.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Animal Kingdom - Class 11 |
| Concept | Chondrichthyes vs. Osteichthyes Buoyancy |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |