Scavenger Animals (Meaning and Explanation)

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

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

What are scavenger animals?

Scavenger animals are those that feed on prey in a state of decomposition but that were not hunted by them but by other animals. They are considered “opportunists” for taking advantage of the corpses left by other 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. This way, prevent the spread of diseases and bacteria typical of the putrefaction process of corpses.

Characteristics of scavenger animals

crow scavenger animals — Some scavengers are omnivores.

Scavenger animals are characterized by walking in small groups waiting to find a corpse and when that moment comes they may even fight among themselves to dispute the body. Only on rare occasions, when there is a time of scarcity of carrion food, do they usually hunt in groups.

Due to the flexibility of their diet (which allows them to feed on different decomposing animals), they are better adapted to new environments or in the face of a shortage of food sources. Although 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 collaborators in maintaining the balance of the environment: facilitate the process of decomposition of matter (both animal and vegetable) and avoid contamination caused by the putrefaction process.

Types of scavenger animals

The different types of scavenger animals are:

The terrestrial scavengers They feed on parts of prey left by predators, and on sick or injured animals. Some examples of terrestrial 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 decomposing organism found in the water. Some examples of aquatic scavengers are: the freshwater turtle, the crab, the remora fish, and the eel.
The aerial scavengers They feed on dead animals or their remains, which they find on land or along 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 on decomposing organisms. Some examples of casual scavengers are: the crocodile, the cockroach, the ant and the magpie.

Examples of scavenger animals

vulture scavenger animals — The vulture is a scavenger bird with excellent eyesight.

Among the main scavenger animals, the following stand out:

The vulture It is a bird that locates its food even at great distances thanks to its excellent vision.
The crow It is a bird that frequents urban areas and garbage dumps to obtain its food.
The hyena It is a mammal that lives in Southern Africa, in areas of grasslands, subdeserts and forests.
The coyote It is a mammal that lives mainly in North America and Central America. To hunt or feed on carrion, it 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 fall off.
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.