saprotroph

views updated

saprotroph(saprobe, saprovore) Any organism that absorbs soluble organic nutrients from inanimate sources (e.g. from dead plant or animal matter, from dung, etc.). If the organism is a plant or is plant-like it is called a saprophyte; if it is an animal or is animal-like it is called a saprozoite. See also consumer organism.

More From encyclopedia.com