1. Food: Animals obtain most of their matter from the food they consume. This food contains organic molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins, which are broken down and used to build and maintain the animal's body.
2. Water: Water is essential for life and makes up a significant portion of an animal's body. Animals drink water and absorb it from their food to maintain hydration and various bodily functions.
3. Air: Animals breathe in oxygen from the air, which is used in cellular respiration to convert food into energy. This process also releases carbon dioxide, which is a waste product and is exhaled back into the atmosphere.
Therefore, the matter in an animal is ultimately derived from the environment through its consumption of food and water, and its interaction with air.