Detritivore

Detritivores are animals whose diet is primarily composed of detritus such as decaying organic matter from either plants or animals. Detritivores are extremely important components within ecosystems since they help break down dead animals and plants and return the nutrients held within them back to the ecosystem. Detritivores are sometimes known as Saprophages. Woodlice are terrestrial crustaceans and are well-known detritivores.

Woodlice are well-known detritivores.

Other names for (or types of) Detritivore include:

• Saprophage

Related terms

• Carnivore
• Diplopoda
• Ecosystem
• Herbivore
• Omnivore
• Predator

Related groups of terms

• General biology

See other words beginning with D