Heterotrophic nutrition
Heterotrophic nutrition is the mode in which organisms depend on other organisms or organic matter for food.
Practice This ConceptMain explanation
Teacher explanation
Animals, fungi, and many bacteria cannot make food from simple substances like green plants do. They take ready-made food in different ways: holozoic, saprotrophic, or parasitic. This concept helps us compare feeding methods across living organisms.
Example
Human beings eat cooked food, fungi absorb nutrients from dead matter, and Cuscuta draws food from a host plant.
Simple analogy
If it cannot make food, it depends on others.
Common confusion
Students think all heterotrophs digest food in the same place or in the same way.
Exam tip
Learn the three main types and give one correct example for each.
Answer writing and exam use
1-mark use
Write the exact meaning of heterotrophic nutrition in one clean line.
2-mark use
Define heterotrophic nutrition and add one example or condition.
3-mark use
Explain heterotrophic nutrition, show the method or example, and mention the common mistake.
Practice this concept with focused MCQs
Open the concept quiz intro first, review the test details, and then start a focused MCQ set from this concept only. Instant score and answer review are live now.
Help improve this page
Found something confusing, incorrect, or missing?