By Josie February 26th, 2024
Vultures are nature’s most famous scavengers, feeding on the carcasses of dead animals.
Hyenas are renowned for their robust digestive systems, capable of processing virtually every part of a carcass, including bones.
Detritivore insects, such as dung beetles, play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling by feeding on the feces of other animals.
The hagfish, an eel-like creature, adopts a macabre method of sustenance, burrowing into dead or dying fish to eat them from the inside out.
Komodo dragons consume the decaying flesh of dead animals. That being said, there are numerous examples of them eating prey alive as well!
While often depicted as ferocious predators, piranhas are also scavengers known for feeding on dead and dying animals.
Army ants are known for their mass-feeding frenzies, consuming almost any animal they overpower.
The Tasmanian devil consumes all parts of its prey, including fur and bones. This prevents disease and recycling nutrients within its habitat.
Flesh flies have a gruesome reproductive strategy, laying their eggs in decaying flesh, which their larvae consume.
Raccoons are known for their omnivorous diet, including garbage and decaying matter.
The aye-aye, a unique primate, feeds on insect larvae found by gnawing holes in wood.
The desert hedgehog consumes insects, small mammals, and even poisonous scorpions without harm.
The star-nosed mole eats earthworms and other invertebrates found in the soil where they burrow.