Mrs. Thompson brought a praying mantis into class today. To which biological kingdom does the praying mantis belong?

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

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the defining characteristics of each biological kingdom listed in the options: Animalia, Fungi, Plantae, and Protista.
2. Recall that organisms in the kingdom Animalia are multicellular, eukaryotic, and heterotrophic, meaning they consume other organisms for energy. They also lack cell walls and are capable of movement at some stage in their life cycle.
3. Compare the characteristics of the praying mantis to the traits of the Animalia kingdom. Note that the praying mantis is a multicellular organism, has a eukaryotic cell structure, is heterotrophic, and exhibits movement.
4. Eliminate the other options by analyzing their characteristics: Fungi are primarily decomposers with cell walls made of chitin, Plantae are autotrophic and perform photosynthesis, and Protista includes mostly unicellular organisms or simple multicellular ones.
5. Conclude that the praying mantis belongs to the kingdom Animalia based on its traits and the process of elimination.