What is a saprotroph?

• A. Heterotroph
• B. Primary producer
• C. Saprotroph
• D. Detritus

Answer: (C)

A saprotroph is an organism that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter by secreting enzymes to break it down outside its body (extracellular digestion) and then absorbing the resulting nutrients. This feeding mode makes saprotrophs a subset of heterotrophs, but they are specifically characterized by decomposing dead material such as fallen leaves or dead organisms. Fungi and some bacteria are common examples. This differs from primary producers, which create organic matter themselves (often through photosynthesis), and from detritus, which is the dead material itself rather than an organism.