Fungus-like protists are ____ and feed via

• A. Saprophytic (digest organic matter) and feed via phagocytosis
• B. Autotrophic photosynthesis
• C. Chemosynthetic energy
• D. Predatory consumption

Answer: (A)

Fungus-like protists are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by digesting organic matter rather than making their own food. Many act as saprophytes, living on and breaking down dead material. Their feeding typically occurs by phagocytosis, where they extend pseudopods to surround and ingest small particles or microorganisms, then digest them inside the cell. They lack chloroplasts, so they don’t perform autotrophic photosynthesis, and chemosynthetic energy isn’t their typical mode. So describing them as saprophytic and feeding via phagocytosis captures how they obtain and process nutrients.