In which of the following groups of organisms, is food material broken down outside the body and absorbed ?

Organisms that break down food material outside their bodies and then absorb the nutrients are known as saprophytes. This process is called extracellular digestion or saprotrophic nutrition [1]. Fungi, such as yeast, mushrooms, and bread moulds, are classic examples of this group [1]. They secrete digestive enzymes (proteolytic, glycolytic, or lipolytic) into their environment to decompose organic matter into simpler molecules like amino acids and glucose, which are then absorbed through the fungal cell wall [1]. In contrast, organisms like Amoeba and Paramecium exhibit holozoic nutrition, where food is engulfed and broken down inside the body (intracellular digestion) . Parasites like Cuscuta (Amar-bel), lice, and tapeworms derive nutrition from a host without killing it, but do not typically perform external breakdown of dead organic matter in the same saprophytic manner [1].

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > 5.2.2 Heterotrophic Nutrition > p. 84