What do we call an organism that consumes dead organic matter?

An organism that consumes dead organic matter is classified as a detritivore. Detritivores play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down decomposing material and recycling nutrients back into the soil, which benefits producers such as plants. Detritivores include organisms like earthworms, fungi, and certain types of insects that feed on decaying plant and animal matter.

While consumers generally refer to organisms that eat other living organisms, detritivores specifically target dead organic matter, distinguishing them from other types of consumers that may prey on live organisms. Producers are organisms like plants that produce their own food through photosynthesis and do not consume other organic matter. Omnivores are consumers that eat both plant and animal matter, which can include both living and dead organisms, but their classification does not specifically focus on the consumption of dead organic matter alone. Thus, the classification of detritivore is the most precise term for organisms that primarily feed on decayed material.