What is parasitic nutrition?

Parasitic nutrition is a type of heterotrophic nutrition in which an organism, called a parasite, obtains its food from another living organism known as the host.

The parasite lives on or inside the host and derives nutrients at the host’s expense. In many cases, this relationship harms the host, as the parasite depends on it for survival and growth.

Examples of parasitic organisms include tapeworms in humans, lice on the scalp, and plants like Cuscuta (dodder) that absorb nutrients from host plants.

Parasitic nutrition is important to understand because it shows how some organisms survive by relying on others, often causing damage or disease.