What is a distinguishing feature of animal cells?

Animal cells are characterized by the absence of both a cell wall and chloroplasts. Unlike plant cells, which have a rigid cell wall that provides structure and support, animal cells have a flexible plasma membrane that allows for a greater range of movement and interaction with their environment. The lack of chloroplasts is significant because these organelles are involved in photosynthesis, a process that only occurs in plants and some protists. Thus, animal cells do not produce their own food through photosynthesis, which further differentiates them from plant cells. This characteristic of lacking a cell wall and chloroplasts is essential for the functions and forms that animal cells perform in multicellular organisms.