A caterpillar has an exoskeleton and feeds on many leaves before it makes a cocoon and becomes a butterfly. Which type of organism is a caterpillar? an autotroph and an invertebrate a heterotroph and an invertebrate an autotroph and a vertebrate a heterotroph and a vertebrate

heterotroph and an invertebrate

Explanation:

Animals have been classified into being AUTOTROPHIC OR HETEROTROPHIC based on their nutrition while they are also classified as VERTEBRATE OR INVERTEBRATES based on their skeleton. A heterotrophic animal is one which depends on other organisms to obtain energy or food while an invertebrate is an animal that lacks a vertebrae column or backbone.

In this case, caterpillars are said to feed on many leaves before it makes a cocoon and becomes a butterfly. This means it relies on plants (leaves) for food, hence, it is HETEROTROPHIC. Also, it has an exoskeleton i.e. skeleton present outside the body. This means that it does not possess any bone inside to form the backbone, and hence it is an INVERTEBRATE.

organisms that lack symmetry are called asymmetrical and belong to phylum porifera/sponges.

organisms with specialized stinging cells belong to phylum cnidaria. stinging cells are called cnidoblast cells.

cnidarians show two morphological forms : polyp (sessile) and medusa (mobile)

filter feeding is observed in porifera members.  

alternation of generation is observed in coelenterata or cnidaria. there is alternation of asexual polyp form and sexual medusoid form. it is also referred as metagenesis.