The mode of nutrition in which an organism ingests solid particulate food, digests it inside the body, and then absorbs the nutrients is known as which type of nutrition?

Introduction / Context:
Organisms obtain nutrients in different ways depending on their structure and environment. Biology classifies these modes of nutrition into several types, such as holozoic, holophytic, saprophytic, and parasitic. This question asks you to identify the mode of nutrition in which an organism takes in solid particulate food, digests it internally, and then absorbs the digested products.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The organism devours particulate food, meaning it ingests solid pieces rather than dissolving nutrients from the environment.
• Digestion occurs inside the body or inside cells before absorption.
• Options include holozoic, holophytic, saprophytic, parasitic, and symbiotic modes of nutrition.
• We assume standard textbook definitions used in school level biology.

Concept / Approach:
Holozoic nutrition is typical of many animals and involves five key steps: ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion. Organisms practising holozoic nutrition consume solid food, break it down using digestive enzymes, and then absorb the nutrients. Holophytic nutrition is essentially autotrophic nutrition seen in green plants, which produce organic food by photosynthesis. Saprophytic nutrition involves feeding on dead and decaying organic matter by secreting enzymes outside the body and absorbing the soluble products. Parasitic nutrition involves living on or in a host and deriving nutrients from it, often harming the host. Symbiotic nutrition refers to mutualistic partnerships. Only holozoic nutrition matches the description given in the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key phrase particulate food is devoured, which implies ingestion of solid pieces. Step 2: Recall that holozoic nutrition involves ingestion of solid food followed by internal digestion and absorption. Step 3: Recognise that holophytic nutrition describes autotrophic plants that make their own food, not devouring particles. Step 4: Note that saprophytes secrete enzymes onto dead matter and absorb dissolved nutrients rather than ingesting particles internally. Step 5: Understand that parasites obtain nutrition from a living host but may use different mechanisms; the question emphasises particulate food and internal digestion, not host dependence. Step 6: Conclude that holozoic nutrition best fits the described mode of nutrition.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks describe holozoic nutrition using examples such as humans, amoeba, and many animals. The process is shown with diagrams that include ingestion of food, digestion in a digestive tract or food vacuoles, and absorption of nutrients. In contrast, holophytic nutrition is illustrated with plants performing photosynthesis, and saprophytic nutrition with fungi growing on bread or dead wood. These clear examples support identifying holozoic nutrition as the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Holophytic nutrition: Represents autotrophic nutrition in plants that manufacture food using light, not ingestion of particles. Saprophytic nutrition: Involves external digestion on dead organic matter, followed by absorption, not internal digestion of ingested solid food. Parasitic nutrition: Depends on a host and may not involve devouring particulate food directly, but rather absorbing nutrients from host tissues or fluids. Symbiotic nutrition: Refers to mutual benefit between partners and does not specifically imply ingestion of particulate food.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse saprophytic and holozoic nutrition because both involve organic matter as a source of nutrients. The key difference is whether digestion is external or internal. Holozoic organisms ingest food and digest it inside, while saprophytes digest food outside and then absorb the soluble products. Remembering this distinction helps in selecting the correct term in exam questions.

Final Answer:
The mode of nutrition described is holozoic nutrition.