Question

The animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water is known as
A. Filter feeders
B. Detritivores
C. Fungivores
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: All animals require food for their survival, growth and sustenance. Animals derive their food from plant sources and/or other plant sources. Food helps the body of a living being to replace degenerated cells, stay strong, healthy and have the energy to carry out certain functions like reproduction, respiration, etc. All animals and plants require food and have specific organs that facilitate the absorption of the nutrients from food.

Complete answer: Filter feeders: Filter feeders are considered to be the ecosystem engineers as they play a vital role in the purification or clarification of water. Filter feeders are a group of animals that feed by straining food particles and suspended matter from water. They accomplish this by utilizing a specialized filtering structure and passing water over it. Some animals such as Krill, clams, sponges, many fishes including some sharks and mammals such as baleen whales feed through this method of feeding. For instance, minute phytoplankton cells cannot be utilized by higher animals of the size of a krill but can be directly utilized by the Antarctic krill. This is achieved with the help of the six thoracopods that act as effective feeding baskets. These collect the phytoplankton from open waters. The krill’s efficiently developed legs also assist in the filtering of the phytoplankton from the water.
Detritivores: These are heterotrophic animals that derive their nutrients from the consumption of dead and decaying organisms and faeces. They are considered to be a vital aspect of the ecosystem. They consume waste matter and dead organisms and excrete nutrients into the soil. Most of the detritivores are terrestrial animals such as millipedes, dung flies, worms, woodlice, slugs, fiddler crabs, sea cucumbers, and sea stars.
Fungivores: Animals that consume only fungi to gain energy and nutrients are called fungivores. Animals such as birds, mammals, plants, insects, nematodes, amoeba, and gastropods to name a few. Animals that feed on fungi and other organisms are called omnivores. Around 22 species of primates feed on fungi including gorillas, lemurs, macaques, marmosets, bonobos, humans, and vervet monkeys feed on fungi.
Therefore, the answer is option A, i.e., Filter feeders

Note: Detritivores also include animals such as vultures that feed on dead animals. Cockroaches are also considered detritivores that feed on decaying plant materials and animal carcasses.