Heterotrophy: Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophic organisms, meaning they obtain their organic compounds from other organisms. They absorb nutrients from their surroundings through their hyphae, which are thread-like structures.
Chitin in cell walls: The cell walls of fungi contain chitin, a complex carbohydrate also found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and other animals. Plants, on the other hand, have cell walls made of cellulose.
Lack of chloroplasts: Fungi lack chloroplasts, which are organelles responsible for photosynthesis. This means that fungi cannot produce their own food through photosynthesis and must obtain it from other sources.
Nutritional mode: Fungi are osmotrophic, meaning they absorb nutrients from their surroundings through their cell walls. They secrete digestive enzymes into their environment, break down organic matter, and then absorb the resulting nutrients. This mode of nutrition is similar to that of animals.
Glycogen as a storage product: Fungi store excess glucose in the form of glycogen, a polysaccharide also found in animals. Plants, on the other hand, store excess glucose as starch.
Motile reproductive cells: Some fungi produce motile reproductive cells called zoospores, which are capable of swimming in water. Zoospores are similar to the motile sperm cells of some animals.
Absence of plasmodesmata: Fungal cells lack plasmodesmata, which are specialized structures that allow for direct communication and transport of molecules between adjacent plant cells.
These shared traits between fungi and animals indicate a closer evolutionary relationship between them compared to plants. Fungi are classified in their own kingdom, distinct from both plants and animals, due to their unique characteristics and ecological roles.