WORD OF THE DAY

Creatures that eat old leaves, dead animals, and other decomposing stuff are called detritivores. Earthworms are a common example of a detritivore.

Detritivores get their name from their preferred food, detritus, which can also mean "trash" or "rock fragments," but in this case means "decomposing organic matter." In addition to dead organisms, detritivores also consume the waste products of animals. They contribute to their ecosystems by returning nutrients into the soil or water. Millipedes, sea cucumbers, slugs, and fiddler crabs are all detritivores.