Fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants due to shared evolutionary traits and genetic similarities. Both fungi and animals are part of the group known as Opisthokonta, which is characterized by their similar cellular structure and reproductive strategies.
One of the key factors that link fungi and animals is the presence of chitin in their cell walls (in fungi) and in the exoskeletons of arthropods (in animals). This structural component is absent in plants, which typically have cellulose-based cell walls.
Additionally, fungi and animals share similar methods of storing energy, primarily through glycogen, while plants store energy in the form of starch. These biochemical similarities point to a common ancestor that existed long before the divergence of these groups.
Moreover, molecular studies, including comparisons of DNA and RNA, further confirm that fungi and animals share a more recent common ancestor compared to plants. This genetic evidence supports the idea that fungi and animals split from a common lineage after the plants branched off, highlighting a closer evolutionary relationship.