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holozoic

holozoic

9.9
Getting food by eating parts of other living things like animals do
  • adjective
  • /ˌhoʊləˈzoʊɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : holozoico
  • Unlike plants, which are autotrophic, humans have a holozoic way of obtaining nutrients.

Examples

  • Many protozoa are holozoic, ingesting bacteria and other small organisms as food.

  • Animals with a holozoic mode of nutrition must consume solid organic matter to survive.

  • A lion is a holozoic animal.

  • Humans are classified as holozoic organisms.

  • Animals with a holozoic mode of nutrition must consume solid organic matter to survive.

  • Many protozoa are holozoic, ingesting bacteria and other small organisms as food.

  • Unlike plants, which are autotrophic, humans have a holozoic way of obtaining nutrients.

Antonyms

holophytic
  • Specialized
9.9

Getting food by making it from light and simple materials like green plants

Surface Forms

holozoic positive

Morphology

holozoic = zoic (opaque) = holo + zoic

Formed from Greek combining elements ('holo-' and '-zoic') that are technical and unfamiliar to average learners, so the meaning is not readily deduced from common English bases.

Etymology

The word holozoic comes from the Greek parts holo- meaning 'whole' and -zoic meaning 'animal' or 'life', the same root you see in zoo. So a helpful way to remember holozoic is to think of living things that take in 'whole' bits of other life — they eat solid food like animals do.