Which description correctly characterizes animals (Kingdom Animalia)?

• A. Prokaryotic, Haploid, Unicellular, Autotrophic Aerobes
• B. Eukaryotic, Diploid, Multicellular, Heterotrophic Aerobes
• C. Eukaryotic, Haploid, Multicellular, Autotrophic
• D. Prokaryotic, Diploid, Multicellular, Heterotrophic Anaerobes

Answer: (B)

Animals are eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms (heterotrophs). In animals, the body cells are diploid, and the typical life cycle features a dominant diploid stage with haploid gametes produced by meiosis, which fuse during fertilization to form a new diploid individual. They generally rely on aerobic metabolism, using oxygen. This combination accurately describes animals.

The other descriptions mix conditions that don’t fit animals, such as organisms lacking a nucleus (prokaryotic), being unicellular, or being autotrophic (capable of photosynthesis) or anaerobic (not requiring oxygen).