2. Heterotrophic nutrition: Animals obtain their nutrients by consuming other organisms or organic matter. They cannot produce their own food through photosynthesis like plants.
3. Movement: Most animals are capable of movement, either by crawling, walking, running, swimming, or flying. Some animals, such as sponges, are sessile and do not move from one place to another.
4. Reproduction: Animals reproduce sexually, with a few exceptions. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes (sex cells) from two individuals to form a zygote, which develops into a new individual.
5. Sensing and responding to stimuli: Animals have specialized structures called sense organs that allow them to detect and respond to changes in their environment. These sense organs include eyes, ears, antennae, and taste buds.
6. Growth and development: Animals grow and develop through a series of stages, from embryo to adult. During this process, they undergo changes in size, shape, and complexity.
7. Organization: Animals are organized into different levels of complexity, from simple invertebrates to complex vertebrates. Invertebrates lack a backbone, while vertebrates have a backbone that supports their body.