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Question

Difficulty: MediumTaxonomy and Classification

In biological classification, a multicellular eukaryotic organism that absorbs nutrients from decaying organic matter and possesses cell walls composed of chitin belongs to which kingdom?

  1. A
    Plantae
  2. FungiAnswer
  3. C
    Animalia
  4. D
    Protista

Answer

The kingdom Fungi
The kingdom Fungi contains eukaryotic organisms that obtain nutrients through absorption from surrounding organic material (heterotrophy) and possess rigid cell walls constructed from the polysaccharide chitin.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the cellular organization and cell wall composition described in the problem.
The organism is eukaryotic, multicellular, and possesses cell walls made of chitin.
Cell wall chemical makeup is a fundamental diagnostic criterion used to differentiate eukaryotic kingdoms.
2
Determine the organism's nutritional mechanism.
The organism obtains energy as an absorptive heterotroph (decomposer).
Nutritional strategy separates fungi from photosynthetic plants and ingestive animals.
3
Synthesize the diagnostic traits to identify the corresponding taxonomic kingdom.
The combination of chitinous cell walls, eukaryotic multicellularity, and absorptive heterotrophy identifies the organism as belonging to Fungi.
Fungi is the only kingdom defined by the simultaneous presence of chitin cell walls and absorptive heterotrophic nutrition.

Key Concept

Diagnostic characteristics of eukaryotic kingdoms in biological classification
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Taxonomy and Classification

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