What term describes the physical appearance of an animal?

The term that describes the physical appearance of an animal is "phenotype." This concept encompasses the observable traits and characteristics that result from the interaction between an organism's genetic makeup (genotype) and its environment. Phenotype includes attributes such as color, size, shape, and other visible qualities that can be seen or measured.

Understanding how phenotype works is crucial, especially in fields like agriculture and breeding, where producers aim to select animals not only based on their genetic potential but also on the traits they display. The other terms mentioned—genotype, trait, and characteristic—refer to different aspects. Genotype pertains to the genetic composition or alleles of an organism, while traits are specific characteristics that an organism may have. Characteristics can describe a range of features, but they do not specifically address the overall physical manifestation as firmly as phenotype does.