saprophagous
Feeding on dead or decaying organic matterFeeding on dead or decaying organic matter.
Meaning
1 senses(not comparable)Feeding on dead or decaying organic matter.
(of certain animals) feeding on dead or decaying animal matter
Origin
From sapro- (“putrid, rotten matter”) + -phagous (“eating, feeding on”).From sapro- (“putrid, rotten matter”) + -phagous (“eating, feeding on”).
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Synonyms
2 synonymsClose in meaning
- (of certain animals) feeding on dead or decaying animal matter:saprozoic