Biology term for the consumption of dead or decaying organic matter. Used in technical contexts.
Saprophagy is an important decomposition process in ecosystems.
saprophytic fungus; saprophytic bacteria
saprozoa; saprophagous animal
saprophytic plant; saprophyte
Compound of 腐 (fu, 'rot') and 生 (sei, 'life' or 'living'), literally 'living on decay'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is used in modern biology.