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Carrion

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A black vulture feeding on carrion
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A black vulture feeding on carrion

Carrion is the carcass of a dead animal that becomes food for other scavenging animals such as hyenas, vultures, Tasmanian Devils, or Andean and Californian condors. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems.

The carrion beetles are a group of beetles from the family Silphidae. They are important for recycling animal remains.

Carrion can be a source of disease.

Some plants and fungi fake the scent of decomposing carrion to attract insects to aid in reproduction. These include the Titan arum and stinkhorn mushrooms.

 


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