Which of the following animals can exist solely on the water they get from food and metabolic reactions?
Answer Details
Of the given options, it is likely that desert dwellers are the animals that can exist solely on the water they get from food and metabolic reactions. This is because desert environments are characterized by extreme aridity, with very little water available. As a result, many desert-dwelling animals have adaptations that allow them to obtain water from their food or through metabolic processes, rather than relying on external sources of water.
For example, some desert animals may have very efficient kidneys that enable them to extract the maximum amount of water from their urine. Others may have specialized diets that allow them to obtain water from the food they eat, such as cacti that store water in their tissues. Some animals may also have adaptations that allow them to produce metabolic water, which is generated through the breakdown of food molecules.
In contrast, forest arboreal dwellers, forest-ground dwellers, and rainforest dwellers generally have access to more water than desert dwellers, as these environments tend to be more humid and have greater amounts of precipitation. As a result, animals in these environments are less likely to have evolved specialized adaptations for obtaining water from their food or metabolic processes.