saprophage

A saprophage is an organism that feeds on decaying organic matter, including dead plants, animals, and other detritus. The term is most often used for animals that consume detritus or carrion, but it can also be applied more broadly to any consumer of decaying matter. In microorganisms, the related concept of saprotrophy describes organisms that decompose dead material by secreting enzymes and absorbing nutrients, whereas saprophage emphasizes the feeding aspect.

In animals, saprophages include a variety of detritivores such as earthworms, woodlice, certain beetles, fly larvae, and crustaceans that feed on decaying organic matter. These organisms play a key role in breaking down complex organic material and facilitating nutrient recycling. In marine and freshwater ecosystems, many amphipods, isopods, and other detritivores likewise feed on decaying matter and contribute to sediment turnover and decomposition processes.

Ecologically, saprophages help convert dead organic matter into simpler compounds, releasing nutrients that support plant growth and sustaining soil health. They interact with decomposer communities, including saprotrophic fungi and bacteria, forming a network that drives the recycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements.

Taxonomy and terminology vary by discipline. Saprophage is a descriptive term for the feeding habit of consuming decaying matter, while saprotrophs or saprobes are technical terms more commonly used for microorganisms that decompose matter. Detritivore is another closely related concept used for animals that ingest detritus, whereas the precise boundaries among these terms can be fluid in practice.