Why do we get liquid oils from plants, but solid fat products from animals? : r/askscience

It's not as simple as animals=fats and plants=oils. I teach a whole section on this in my physiology courses and the answer is both more interesting and more complex than the other answers here have indicated. It relates to the body temperature of the organisms AND the environment they live in. Basically, fats/oils are a more compact way to store excess energy (than carbs), and saturated fats are the most compact of all. Fats/oils are also necessary for cell membranes. Most organisms, especially mobile organisms, tend to make "saturated" fats, rather than "unsaturated" liquid oils, if they can get away with it, especially for storing excess energy. This is because saturated fats are very compact and are a more efficient way to store energy. Saturated fats are named that because they are "saturated with hydrogen atoms", really meaning, they have no C=C double bonds, really meaning, they are straight and will pack together tightly. That makes them excellent for storing energy. BUT the pa

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• Moses Won