Which type of consumer would be classified as a scavenger?

A scavenger is specifically defined as a type of consumer that feeds primarily on dead organic matter. Scavengers play a vital role in ecosystems by recycling nutrients and helping decompose organisms, which can otherwise lead to the accumulation of waste in the environment. They consume remains of animals, plants, and other decomposed materials, aiding in the breakdown processes essential for ecosystem health.

The other classifications of consumers do not align with the definition of a scavenger. For example, consumers that only eat plants are categorized as herbivores, while those that consume both living and dead organisms fall into a broader classification of omnivores. Additionally, consumers that primarily feed on other animals are classified as carnivores. All these roles are crucial within an ecosystem, but they do not specifically embody the scavenging behavior centered on dead organic matter. Thus, the correct answer reflects the essential ecological function of scavengers in the food web.