Heterotrophic nutrition is the second type of nutrition in which one organism depends on another organism for nutrition or for getting the food material. These organisms do not prepare their own food material instead depend on another. Some organisms eat plants, some will get animals parts or many of the organisms that can eat both.
On the basis of food habit, the heterotrophic organisms are divided into 3 classes :
1.) Herbivores : These animals eat only plant materials such animals are called herbivores. For example : Rabbit, deer, cow etc.
2.) Carnivores : The organism which eat other animals or their parts such as meal, they are called as carnivores, For example : Dog, tiger, lion.
3.) Omnivores : These organisms eat both animals and plants such organisms are known as omnivores. For example : Humans.
How do heterotrophs get nutrition ?
Lets take example of heterotrophic simple organism for our understanding. According to the diagram of nutrition in amoeba (single cell microorganism), how do they get food?
Diagram of amoeba nutrition
If any food particle is present near the amoeba, then with the help of finger like projection present on their body that is pseudopodia. With the help of this pseudopodia, these amoeba can attract or engulf their food. This is the mechanism of nutrition in amoeba.
Question and answers :
1.) Define heterotrophs along with example.
Answer :- Heterotrophic nutrition is the second type of nutrition in which one organism depends on another organism for nutrition or for getting the food material.
2.) What is herbivores ?
Answer :- These animals eat only plant materials such animals are called herbivores. For example : Rabbit, deer, cow etc.
3.) What is carnivores ?
Answer : The organism which eat other animals or their parts such as meal, they are called as carnivores, For example : Dog, tiger, lion.
4.) What is omnivores ?
Answer :- These organisms eat both animals and plants such organisms are known as omnivores. For example : Humans
5.) Explain in detail heterotrophic nutrition with suitable example.
Answer :- If any food particle is present near the amoeba, then with the help of finger like projection present on their body that is pseudopodia. With the help of this pseudopodia, these amoeba can attract or engulf their food. This is the mechanism of nutrition in amoeba.