autotroph vs. heterotroph

autotroph vs. heterotroph: What’s the difference?

An autotroph is an organism capable of self-nourishing by synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances using light (photosynthesis) or chemical energy (chemosynthesis). A heterotroph is an organism that has to consume organic matter (often plant or animal matter) to nourish itself. All animals, protozoans, fungi, and most bacteria are heterotrophs. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria are autotrophs.