Earth, our planet supports various conditions such as atmosphere, vegetation, etc that are ideal for the living of any organisms. These organisms involve microbes, plants, animals, humans, birds, and many more. You already know about these living organisms which have distinct characteristic features; however, did you know that these plants and animals share many similarities? Well, read the article to learn about the similarities between plants and animals along with what plants and animals both need and other facts related to it.
1. What are Similarities Between Plants and Animals?
The similarities between plants and animals are quite simple, as both of them feed, respire, grow, excrete, move as well as reproduce, making them ideal living organisms. Let us learn about these qualities in a vivid manner for a better understanding.
- Feed: Plants and animals are both living beings and hence they need to feed themselves in order to survive, the quality which makes them similar. Animals depend upon other animals to feed themselves, whereas plants need energy which they get from sunlight.
- Respire: Both plants and animals need to respire. You might already know about animals but plants? Yes, plants like animals respire by taking in oxygen from the air. They do this at night.
- Grow: Plants and animals, both age and grow.
- Excrete: Both plants and animals use natural resources and excrete waste products.
- Move: Animals move from one place to another and so do plants, but very slowly. They turn towards the sun to gather sunlight.
- Reproduce: Plants and animals reproduce. They produce new plants and animals before they die.
2. What do Plants and Animals both Need?
Plants and animals are the primary living creatures of this planet which supports life as well for us humans. Humans tend to depend upon plants and animals for their own survival, but what do plants and animals both need? Well, plants and animals also need to have certain things for their own survival. Plants and animals both need food, water, space, and air to survive in this ecosystem.
However, it is quite interesting that they both need each other for each other’s survival. This is because animals inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, whereas plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, which is needed for the animal’s survival. Hence, they both need each other to survive. But that’s not the end of it, animals also depend upon plants for food, and other purposes. Read Why do Animals Eat Plants?
3. Which Process do Plants and Animals Have in Common?
Plants and animals both need respiration, growth, transportation or movement, nutrition, and excretion in order for their sustenance in this ecosystem.
- Respiration: Animals inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. On the other hand, plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen which is needed and important to all living beings.
- Growth: Both plants and animals grow throughout their lifetimes.
- Transportation: The similarities between plants and animals are that both are able to move around. Animals transport from place to place. Plants as well move but very slowly. Their movement can be captured when they turn slowly towards the sun for grasping sunlight for photosynthesis.
- Nutrition: Animals and plants need nutrition for their immunity and to have the energy to carry out the bodily functions of their life.
- Excretion: Plants and animals consume several natural resources, which results in the excretion of waste products. This is one of the significant similarities between plants and animals.
4. Which Organ is Common to Both Plant and Animal?
Plants and animals have their own characteristics and physical and biological features that make them distinct. However, there are some similarities between plant and animal cells. The organ that is common to both plants and animals is Mitochondria. So, what is it? Well, mitochondria is often referred to as the power-generating house of a cell. A cell involves several things such as the cell body, nucleus, etc. The mitochondria is one such element that generates power for the cell. In biological terms, the mitochondria involve cellular respiration, which is a biochemical process needed for the cell to carry out its activities. (See Plants Store Food in the Form of)
5. What are the 5 Similarities Between Plant and Animal Cells?
Plants and animals are both dissimilar organisms in this world. However, being eukaryotic cells, they involve certain similar qualities necessary for their own sustenance on this homely planet. To understand this in a better way, it is important that we figure out the similarities between plant and animal cells through biological terminologies. Here is a list of 5 similarities between plants and animals:
- They have common organelles such as cell membranes.
- Both plants and animals possess cell nuclei.
- Plants and animals cells both have mitochondria that bring energy to the cell.
- Both plants and animal cells involve the Endoplasmic Reticulum, Ribosomes, and Golgi apparatus.
6. Can Plants Survive without Animals?
Yes, plants can absolutely survive without animals. Plants require carbon dioxide and they exhale oxygen. They live with the help of nutrients, sunlight, and carbon dioxide to make their own food and energy necessary for their survival, which they can obtain from our planet itself without any intervention of human or animal life. They make their food through the process of photosynthesis from sunlight. On the contrary, animals cannot survive without plants. Many animals rely on plants for food. Along with this, plants keep the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide which is utterly important for animals in order to survive. (See What are Examples of Flowering and Non Flowering Plants?)
7. Why do Plants Depend on Animals?
Plants depend on animals for reproduction or pollination. Plants rely on bees or other insects for pollination. These pollinators as well need the nectar from flowers and plants. As the flowers pollinate, they turn into berries that are consumed by several animals such as bears, foxes, etc. Through the animal’s excretion processes, the berry seeds are deposited in several places which help the plants to reproduce. This is why plants depend on animals.
8. What do Animals Need but Plants Don’t?
The respiration system is one such factor that the animals rely on plants but the plants don’t. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen needed for the rest of the living organisms of this world. Animals take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide for which they are dependent upon animals. The three things necessary for living are food, shelter, and water. Among these three things, animals solely rely on plants for food. Without food the animals receive from plants, their sustenance would be hard. (See What is the Function of Leaves?)
9. How Animals and Plants Support Each Other?
There are several things through which animals and plants support each other. Firstly, animals need to have oxygen for survival and to produce energy. Plants on the other hand need carbon dioxide and release oxygen through the process of photosynthesis for synthesizing their food. In this way, plants and animals both need each other. Secondly, many animals rely on plants to feed themselves as they directly consume plants and plants as well rely on animals for reproduction. Decomposition of animal excretion is also necessary for plant growth.
10. Can Plants Grow on Animals?
No, plants cannot grow on animals. Plants need sunlight, water, nutrition, and several other elements to grow. And because of this, plants cannot grow on animals as plants would need water. Plants are able to develop on land because of sunlight and water through which they produce their own food with the help of a process known as photosynthesis. Along with this, on land, plants have soil through which they can gather water and especially nutrients.
Animals do not have these elements and hence are not life-supporting bases for plants. Check out 20 Animals that Live in the Jungle.
11. What are the Similarities Between Plants and Animals Growth?
- The similarities between plants and animals growth are that both of them incur energy transformation systems and utilization systems, that make them able to grow.
- They both have cells, RNA and DNA, that are essential for the growth of a cellular organism.
- Both plants and animals possess cells making them developing bodies.
- They require nutrients, macromolecules, and other elements for their growth and development.
We may conclude with the fact that although being separate living organisms, they share some aspects that make them able to survive as well as sustain in this ecology. Moreover, they are interdependent, meaning that they require each other for their own survival. These similarities mainly involve respiration, food, shelter, nutrition, etc.
