10 Carrion Animals, Which Feed On Corpses
Also called scavengers, carrion animals are characterized by feeding on corpses without participating in hunting or killing the prey. This means that they play an important role in the ecosystem, as they eliminate organic waste before it decomposes.
In this text, we will bring information about some species with this form of food.
Examples of carrion animals
Butchers consume decaying biomass, hunted or injured animals, and individuals who have died of natural causes. Although it doesn’t seem like it, they play a very important role in the ecosystem, as they keep it free of decaying matter. Some examples of carrion animals are:
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common crow
This species of corvid, the largest of its family, has a thick beak to tear the flesh from its prey and is considered one of the biggest “opportunists” in the animal kingdom, feeding on what others leave behind.
For example, if you live in urban areas, stay close to dumps or dumps. If their habitat is close to roads, their food will be based on animals that were run over by vehicles. It grows on the tundra of Alaska, eats the remains of reindeer or birds.
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Vulture
These birds of prey feed on dead animals in most cases. However, if for some reason they cannot find carrion, they have the ability to hunt. They locate their food thanks to their powerful vision, which allows them to see carrion from many kilometers away, in open fields or non-forest areas.
When they find a corpse, they can be very aggressive towards other animals that want to take it. They use their thick beaks to tear apart skin and tendons, and their tongues to remove the flesh.
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Hyena
These scavengers that live in Africa can also be skilled hunters. It all depends on the situation. The hyena consumes several parts of the corpse, with the exception of the fur, the hoof and the horns, as they cannot properly digest them.
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Remora
There are also carrion animals in the sea, such as this fish, which stays close to the sharks to take advantage of the waste they leave after eating. With this , they even prevent predators from capturing them, since no one likes to face an animal with teeth as sharp as its host.
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jackal
Other carrion animals that can be hunted according to the situation. The jackal is an omnivorous and nocturnal animal whose diet is composed of dead birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. In addition, it is known that it looks for waste in landfills.
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Coyote
A born opportunist who bases his diet on whatever is available, including dead bodies and animal remains. They prefer fresh meat hunted by themselves, but can feed on the remains of deer, abandoned by larger predators.
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Demon of Tasmania
Small in size and nocturnal, this Australian animal feeds on what it finds and, thanks to its sharp jaws and teeth, can devour prey – including bone and skin – in a matter of minutes. Sometimes it can feed on the corpses of cattle.
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Urchin
It is also one of the carrion animals that goes out at night and takes advantage of everything in its path: earthworms, slugs, caterpillars, beetles, fungi and fruits. Therefore, it has a very varied diet.
The hedgehog does not hunt, but finds its food by smelling the ground. Generally, they consume animal remains before the hibernation season, when they must gain weight to support the months without eating.
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Crab
This crustacean eats any type of fish, such as starfish, snails or sea urchins. It can also base its diet on eggs of other species and any dead organism that “falls” to the bottom of the sea.
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butcher beetle
As its name implies, this small-sized insect – no more than 40 millimeters – feeds on decomposing corpses. It can even bury dead invertebrates and use them later to feed the larvae.
