What requirement defines membership in Kingdom Animalia that weasels fulfill?
Answer
Heterotrophic nutrition
The highest level of classification, Kingdom Animalia, is defined by a set of fundamental biological characteristics shared by all members, from sponges to whales. The critical feature mentioned that separates animals from plants and fungi is their method of obtaining energy. Animals are heterotrophs, meaning they cannot produce their own food internally through processes like photosynthesis. Instead, they must consume or ingest other organisms for energy and carbon sources. Additionally, members of this kingdom are characterized by being multicellular and having eukaryotic cells that conspicuously lack rigid cell walls, differentiating them structurally from members of the Plant Kingdom.
Related Questions
What specialized teeth define the Order Carnivora lineage weasels belong to, adapted for slicing flesh?What shared morphological traits distinguish members of Family Mustelidae from other carnivores?What distinguishes an Ermine from a Stoat within the Genus Mustela classifications?What is the most notable characteristic defining Class Mammalia membership for weasels, setting them apart?What fundamental structure must an animal possess at some life stage to be classified under Phylum Chordata?What biological distinction does the Least Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) hold among living carnivores globally?Into which major suborder of Carnivora do weasels fall, contrasting with the cat-like Feliformia?Which animals share the Superfamily Musteloidea grouping alongside the weasel's Family Mustelidae?What specific anatomical feature characterizes the Long-tailed Weasel (*Mustela frenata*) compared to the Least Weasel?Why is using the specific epithet necessary when discussing co-occurring weasels in places like Pennsylvania?What requirement defines membership in Kingdom Animalia that weasels fulfill?