Which of the following organisms possesses both plant and animal characteristics?

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the organism that shows both plant-like and animal-like features. Look for one that can photosynthesize (plant trait) and also move actively or feed on food (animal traits).

2. Explain the concept Euglena is a unicellular protist that sits on the borderline between plants and animals.

• Plant-like features: It has chloroplasts with chlorophyll and makes its own food by photosynthesis. It also has a stigma (eyespot) that senses light.
• Animal-like features: It has no cell wall, only a flexible pellicle. It moves actively using a flagellum. In the dark, it can feed heterotrophically by absorbing organic matter.

3. Check each option

• A. Amoeba: Purely animal-like. It has no chlorophyll, moves by pseudopodia, and feeds by engulfing food.
• B. Euglena: Has both chlorophyll and a flagellum, so it has both plant and animal features.
• C. Paramecium: Purely animal-like. It is a ciliate that feeds heterotrophically and has no chlorophyll.
• D. Spirogyra: A filamentous green alga with a cell wall and spiral chloroplasts. It is plant-like only.
• E. Volvox: A colonial green alga with chlorophyll and flagella. It is usually classed as an alga (plant-like), though its flagellated colony is motile. It is not the classic example of a plant-animal organism, and it does not feed heterotrophically like Euglena.

4. Answer Euglena is the classic example of an organism with both plant and animal characteristics.

5. Exam tip Remember "Euglena = the bridge." Chlorophyll plus flagellum means plant and animal traits together. If you see Euglena in a "both plant and animal" question, choose it.