Which type of organisms obtain energy by eating plants or other animals?

Heterotrophic organisms are those that obtain energy by consuming other organisms, which can include both plants and animals. Unlike autotrophic organisms, which generate their own energy through processes like photosynthesis, heterotrophs rely on organic material produced by other living things. This category includes a vast range of organisms, such as herbivores that eat plants, carnivores that eat other animals, and omnivores that consume both.

Understanding this distinction is crucial, as it underpins the different roles that organisms play in ecosystems, such as producers and consumers. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms refer to the cellular structure of the organisms—prokaryotes lack a defined nucleus, while eukaryotes have a nucleus. These classifications do not inherently indicate how an organism obtains its energy.