scavengers

Animals

2022

We explain what scavengers are and how they are classified. Also, what are its characteristics and some examples.

Scavengers compete with each other for the remains left by other animals.

What are scavengers?

Scavengers are those that feed on prey in a state of decomposition but that were not hunted by them, but by others animals. They are considered "opportunists" for taking advantage of the corpses left by others predators.

They play an important role in maintaining the balance of the habitat because they act quickly when they see a decomposing body to feed on. In this way, they prevent the spread of diseases and bacteria, typical of process rotting of corpses.

Characteristics of scavengers

Some scavengers are omnivores.

Scavengers are characterized by walking in small groups waiting to find a corpse and at that time they can even fight among themselves to dispute the body. Only on rare occasions, when there is a shortage of food of carrion, they usually hunt in groups.

Due to the flexibility of their diet (which allows them to feed on different decomposing animals), they are a better adaptation to new environments or to the scarcity of food sources. While scavengers are carnivores, some are also omnivores (that is, they consume meat and plant matter in a state of decomposition).

For this reason, scavengers are considered as collaborators in maintaining the balance of the environment: facilitate the decomposition process of the matter (both animal and plant) and avoid contamination caused by the process of putrefaction.

Types of scavengers

The different types of scavengers are:

  • The land scavengers. They feed on prey parts left by predators, and sick or injured animals. Some examples of land scavengers are: the coyote, the South American raccoon, the Tasmanian devil, and the hyena.
  • The aquatic scavengers. They feed on dead fish or any other organism in a state of decomposition that is in the Water. Some examples of aquatic scavengers are: turtle freshwater, crab, remora fish and eel.
  • The aerial scavengers. They feed on dead animals or their remains, which they find on land or at the water's edge. Some examples of aerial scavengers are: the American crow, the fly, the vulture, the Andean condor and the marabou stork.
  • The casual scavengers. They feed on game and also decomposing organisms. Some examples of casual scavengers are: the crocodile, the cockroach, the ant, and the magpie.

Examples of scavengers

The vulture is a scavenger bird with excellent eyesight.

Among the main scavengers, the following stand out:

  • The vulture. It is a bird that locates its food even at great distances thanks to its excellent eyesight.
  • The Raven. It is a bird that frequents urban areas and garbage dumps to obtain its food.
  • Hyena. Is a mammal that lives in Africa of the South, in areas of grasslands, sub-deserts and forests.
  • The coyote. It is a mammal that lives mainly in North America and Central America. To hunt or feed on carrion, he usually goes alone or in a monogamous pair.
  • The remora. It is a fish that lives near the coast or reef area. To feed, it attaches itself to other animals that have hunted prey and takes advantage of the remains that are shed.
  • The water beetle. It is a type of insect that lives in river waters and feeds on fish, larvae, and other smaller insects that fall into the water.
!-- GDPR -->