What are Heterotrophs and their types?

Organisms depending on plants and other animals for nutritional requirements are known as heterotrophs, and they exhibit a heterotrophic mode of nutrition. For example, humans, animals, birds, etc.

Heterotrophs can be further classified into three different types based on their modes of nutrition.

i) Holozoic nutrition- In holozoic nutrition, organisms feed by ingesting solid material, and later digesting them in the digestive tract. Examples include- humans, animals, insectivorous plants.

ii) Saprophytic nutrition- In this, the organisms feed on dead and decaying matter. For Example, bacteria, and fungi digest the food externally and then absorb the nutrients.

iii) Parasitism- This type of nutrition is seen in parasites. As parasites live on or inside a living host, they absorb food and other nutritional requirements from the host. Examples, lice, tapeworms, etc.