What is another word for saprophilous?
Pronunciation: [sˈe͡ɪpɹəfˌɪləs] (IPA) 
Saprophilous refers to species of plants or microorganisms which thrive in decaying organic matter. It can also refer to animals that feed on decaying matter. Synonyms for saprophilous include necrotrophic, coprophilous, lignicolous, xylotrophic, and mycetophilous. Necrotrophic refers to organisms that feed on dead or dying matter, while coprophilous refers to those that thrive on feces. Lignicolous describes organisms that depend on decaying wood for survival, and xylotrophic refers to those that primarily feed on wood. Finally, mycetophilous refers to organisms that feed on fungi. All of these terms help to describe the unique ecological niche of saprophilous organisms in different contexts.
