It is every living organism that feeds on decaying plant organic matter or that help to decompose it. It comes from the Greek roots sapros (rotten) and phytosanitary (plant). Generally these are microorganisms, especially fungi or bacteria. Pudridores fungi or molds are also called them. Higher organisms that play this role are told scavengers.
Derives from the Greek adjective sapros, Putrid, rotten, mouldy and the substantive phyton, plant, everything that takes place. The Saprophytes are fundamental to the food chain. They are essential in the food chain as they help in the process of decomposition that fertilizes the soil. The vultures also are considered Saprophytes because they feed on corpses rotting.
