animál

Animál is a term used to refer to living organisms belonging to the biological kingdom Animalia. These organisms are multicellular eukaryotes, meaning their cells have a nucleus and they are composed of many cells. A defining characteristic of animals is that they are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms. They typically lack cell walls, which are present in plants and fungi.

Animals exhibit a wide range of diversity in form, function, and habitat. They can be found in virtually every environment on Earth, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, and from arid deserts to lush rainforests. Their life cycles generally involve sexual reproduction, although asexual reproduction is also observed in some species. Animals are distinguished from plants by their inability to produce their own food through photosynthesis and from fungi by their method of nutrient acquisition.

The animal kingdom encompasses a vast array of life forms, including invertebrates such as insects, mollusks, and worms, as well as vertebrates like fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Evolutionary studies suggest that animals originated from a group of flagellated protists. The study of animals is known as zoology.