What are heterotrophs? Is there is any difference between heterotrophs or heterotrophic?


A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food. They instead take nutrition from other sources of organic carbon, mainly plant or animal matter. 

In the food chain, heterotrophs are primary, secondary and tertiary consumers, but never the producers.


Heterotrophic nutrition is a type of nutrition in which organisms depend upon other organisms for food to survive. Heterotrophic organisms have to take in all the organic substances they need to survive. 

All animals, fungi, and non-photosynthesizing plants are heterotrophic. 

Hence, there is no difference between heterotroph and heterotrophic.

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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