noun
scavenger; saprophagous animal
Technical term in biology and medicine for an animal that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter. In everyday contexts, 腐肉食動物 or simply スカベンジャー may be more common.
ハゲワシは代表的な腐食動物である。
Vultures are typical scavengers.
腐食動物は生態系において分解者の役割を果たす。
Scavengers play the role of decomposers in the ecosystem.
Compound of 腐食 (fushoku, 'decay' or 'decomposition') and 動物 (dōbutsu, 'animal'). The term is a modern scientific coinage, likely from the Meiji period, based on the concept of saprophagy.