Kidney stones can be excruciatingly painful in humans, but for birds and reptiles, peeing solids is just part of the daily grind. “This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways ...

Reptiles and birds have evolved to expel nitrogenous waste in the form of solids, known commonly as urates, which are predominantly uric acid crystals. Having solid or semisolid urine helps the ...

SUNDAY, Nov. 16, 2025 — Scientists think snakes and lizards could help them find new ways to prevent painful kidney stones and gout in people. And it all owes to an evolutionary trick. Reptiles don’t ...

Reptiles don't urinate like humans do; instead, they pass these solid urates (left). (Journal of the American Chemical Society via SWNS) By Stephen Beech Crystals "peed" by snakes could hold the key ...

Why Do Snakes Pee Solid? While humans and other mammals excrete urea diluted in large volumes of water as urine, some insects, birds, and reptiles expel this chemical in solid form, called urates.

SUNDAY, Nov. 16, 2025 — Scientists think snakes and lizards could help them find new ways to prevent painful kidney stones and gout in people. And it all owes to an evolutionary trick.