Difference Between Plants And Animals

We all know there are many differences between plants and animals, but what are they? When we say the plant, you think of green things which can prepare their own food. Similarly, when you hear animal, you think of organisms having a well-developed body with a proper organ system. Thus, they are easy to differentiate. However, you will find that there is a lot of difference between plants and animals which can be observed at a physical as well as the cellular level. Plants and animals fall under the category multicellular, eukaryotes. They share the same ecosystems, surroundings and their dependability on each other.

Definition of Plants

Plants fall under the multicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes category. Further, they belong to the kingdom Plantae. There are different kinds of plants found in different areas and climates. Moreover, they are the primary producers on the Earth’s ecosystem.

We call plants autotrophs because they are capable of producing their own food through photosynthesis. Generally, plants consist of a proper root system and the shoot system. The root system is one found below the ground.

Whereas, the shoot system contains parts above the ground like flowers, fruits, leaves, buds and more. There are different types of plants. They range from angiosperms, gymnosperms, ferns, conifers and mosses to liverworts, hornworts, green algae and more.

Definition of Animals

Belonging to the kingdom of Animalia, animals also vary from one place to another. Further, they fall under the category of multicellular, eukaryotes. Moreover, they are found in air, water and land.

Animals also have sub-divisions. For instance, they may be vertebrates or invertebrates, oviparous or viviparous, and even cold-blooded or warm-blooded. Generally, the most common groups of animals are classified as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds and insects.

Looking at the number of animals, there are around 80,000+ vertebrates, and 6, 750,000+ invertebrates. Similarly, we have around five million species of insects. Moreover, the mammals account for only 5,500.

Difference between Plants And Animals

Important Difference between Plants And Animals

Basis of Comparison	Plants	Animals
Meaning	Green-coloured living things capable of preparing their own food through photosynthesis.	Living organisms that feed on organic material and contain an organ system.
Movement	Cannot move as they are rooted in the ground. Exceptions- Volvox and Chlamydomonas.	Can move freely from one place to the other. Exception- Sponges and Corals.
Digestive System	Absent	Present
Food Storage	Store food in the form of starch	Store food in the form of glycogen
Structure of Cell	Contains cell wall, chloroplast, plasmodesmata, plastids and other organelles	Do not have cell walls, have other organelles like tight junction and cilia.
Respiration	Take in Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen	Take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide
Respiration through	Occurs through stomata	Occurs through lungs, gills, skin and more.
Growth	The meristematic system in the tip of roots and stems supports growth	Organs and organ system support the growth
Reproduction Method	Asexual reproduction by budding, vegetative methods, wind, spores, insects.	Animals reproduce sexually whereas some lower animals like algae have asexual reproduction
Response	Show response through touch and light	The proper nervous  system allows responding quickly
Sensitive	Less sensitive	Highly sensitive
Examples	Cactus, moss, conifers, flowering plants, vascular plants, etc.	Vertebrate, Insects, Reptiles, Mammals, Amphibians, etc.

More details about Plants

Plants can either be angiosperms or gymnosperms. The former are ones where seeds are present inside the fruit. On the other hand, the latter are naked seeds. Botany is the study of plants and Botanist is someone who studies plants.

Plants carry much importance in many ways. They come of use in medicine and are also an important source of food. Further, they also play a crucial role in providing oxygen to the atmosphere.

More details about Animals

Animals are motile organisms having many organs which perform various functions of the body. In other words, they have a well-developed respiratory system, digestive system, excretory system, reproductive and nervous system.

They require food, air, water and shelter for surviving. In addition, a proper habitat is also important for their healthy life and reproduction process. Animals vary based on the place they live, the food they eat, their living habits, and more.

FAQs about Difference Between Plants And Animals

Question 1: State one difference between plants and animals in terms of the digestive system.

Answer 1: One difference between plants and animals is that plants do not consist of the digestive system while animals do.

Question 2: How does respiration take place in plants and animals?

Answer 2: In plants, it occurs through stomata. Whereas, in animals, it occurs through lungs, gills, skin and more.