If a hiker picked up a mollusk on a trail in a rain forest, to which kingdom would this organism belong?

• A. Animalia
• B. Protista
• C. Fungi
• D. Plantae

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the characteristics of mollusks. Mollusks are soft-bodied organisms, often with a hard shell, and include animals like snails, clams, and octopuses. They are multicellular and exhibit heterotrophic behavior, meaning they consume organic material for energy.
2. Step 2: Review the defining traits of the Kingdom Animalia. Organisms in this kingdom are multicellular, eukaryotic, and heterotrophic. They lack cell walls and are capable of movement at some stage in their life cycle.
3. Step 3: Compare the traits of mollusks to the other kingdoms listed: Protista, Fungi, and Plantae. Protista includes mostly unicellular organisms, Fungi are decomposers with cell walls made of chitin, and Plantae are autotrophic organisms that perform photosynthesis.
4. Step 4: Determine which kingdom aligns with the characteristics of mollusks. Since mollusks are multicellular, heterotrophic, and lack cell walls, they fit the criteria for Kingdom Animalia.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the mollusk picked up by the hiker belongs to the Kingdom Animalia based on its biological traits and classification.