BACK TO detritivore

detritivore vs. decomposer

[ dih-trahy-tuh-vawr, -vohr ]
noun
  1. an organism that uses organic waste as a food source, as certain insects.
[ dee-kuhm-poh-zer ]
noun
  1. a person or thing that decomposes.
  2. an organism, usually a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down the cells of dead plants and animals into simpler substances.

Compare More Commonly Confused Words