Which of the following best describes how animals obtain carbon?

Animals obtain carbon primarily by consuming organic matter, most commonly through the process of eating plants. When animals consume plant material, they take in the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, which are carbon-based compounds derived from the photosynthesis process that plants use to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This dietary intake provides animals with the essential carbon that they need for growth, energy, and cellular processes.

The process of photosynthesis, in which plants convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into glucose, is not something animals can do. Animals are heterotrophic, meaning they rely on consuming other organisms—like plants or other animals—to obtain the organic carbon needed for their survival. The other options do not accurately reflect the primary means by which animals acquire carbon; thus, eating plants remains the best description of how animals obtain carbon.