Is fungi a plant or animal?

Fungi are distinct from both plants and animals. They form their own biological kingdom — Fungi — created to highlight their unique features. Although fungi share some traits with animals (like depending on other sources for food and having closer genetic ties), they have special characteristics, such as cell walls made of chitin, which set them apart from plants.

Differences from Plants

• Nutrition: Fungi are heterotrophs. They cannot make their own food as plants do. Instead, they absorb nutrients from their surroundings.
• Cell Structure: The cell walls of fungi are made of chitin, the same substance found in insect shells, unlike plant cell walls that contain cellulose.
• Photosynthesis: Fungi lack chlorophyll and chloroplasts, so they cannot perform photosynthesis.

Differences from Animals

• Growth: Fungi grow through tiny thread-like structures called hyphae, which extend at their tips. They digest food externally before absorbing nutrients.

Genetic and Evolutionary Relationship

• Closer to Animals: Fungi are genetically closer to animals than plants. They share a common ancestor with animals that split from plants over a billion years ago.
• Shared Traits: Both fungi and animals are heterotrophic, meaning they depend on other organisms for food.