Moral equality is consistent with different sorts of treatment and rights. Moral equality depends on the nature of the members of the group. Still we believe they are morally equal. Therefore such consideration should not depend on what the things in question are like or what abilities they possess, except that they have interests. Therefore racism, sexism and speciesism are morally wrong.
Humans eat other species merely to please their palates.
This is true because there are other more efficient means to satisfy our nutritional needs. We further inflict suffering on animals only in order to keep food affordable. Philosophers have failed to question these basic prejudices and so have confirmed speciesists in their speciesism. Philosophers have invariably formulated the principle of equality in terms of human equality. Philosophers have used devious reasons to reconcile their preconceptions of animal inequality.