detritivore

(noun)

an organism that feeds on detritus; a decomposer

Related Terms

Examples of detritivore in the following topics:

  • Subphyla of Arthropoda

    • Millipedes bear two pairs of legs per diplosegment, a feature that results from embryonic fusion of adjacent pairs of body segments, are usually rounder in cross-section, and are herbivores or detritivores.

  • Classes of Echinoderms

    • Ophiuroids are generally scavengers or detritivores.

  • Food Chains and Food Webs

    • A detrital food web consists of a base of organisms that feed on decaying organic matter (dead organisms), called decomposers or detritivores.