Abstract
Animals are heterotrophic organisms requiring ready-made organic and inorganic compounds as food. This is taken into the body, broken down, absorbed and used by the animal’s protoplasm. Heterotrophic organisms are of three main kinds:
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(i)
Holozoic animals feed in a typical animal-like way, by eating other organisms or foods made by them.
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(ii)
Saprozoites are animals (certain protozoa, round worms and flatworms) which feed on soluble organic matter in solutions; and saprophytes are plants (fungi and bacteria) which feed on dead and decaying matter.
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(iii)
Parasites are organisms obtaining their food from another living organism called the host (see Section 18.7).
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© 1987 Macmillan Publishers Limited
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Kilgour, O.F.G. (1987). Animal Nutrition. In: Mastering Biology. Macmillan Master Series. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09692-3_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09692-3_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-44678-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-09692-3
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