The term for an animal that can produce its own food is "autotroph." Autotrophs are organisms that can create their own nutrients from inorganic substances, primarily through processes such as photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Plants, for example, utilize sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, making them primary producers in ecosystems. In contrast, heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms or organic matter to obtain energy. The distinction between autotrophs and heterotrophs is fundamental in the study of ecology and food chains.