Either equivalent to decomposer or instead of more parts of other organisms.

Detrivores are chemoheterophic organisms. As defined in its more narrow sense, that is, something other than strictly decomposers, they mostly consist of animals. That is, they are of dead parts of other organisms.

An additional related concept is that of , though scavengers are often considered to gain access to these food sources sooner than detrivores. Indeed, it is possible to construct a timeline of sorts where scavengers gain access prior to detrivores and with decomposers acting at every stage though especially the end stages of overall .

Ultimately, it is mineralization of bodies of dead organisms that is achieved. Note also the concept of saprophyte. See also detrius