Detritus is dead organic matter, including:

* Dead plants

* Dead animals

* Feces

Detritivores play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down this organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available to other organisms.

Examples of detritivores:

* Invertebrates: Earthworms, millipedes, snails, slugs, dung beetles, woodlice, springtails

* Vertebrates: Some fish, crabs, lobsters, some birds (like vultures), and some mammals (like opossums and raccoons)

* Microorganisms: Fungi and bacteria are also important detritivores, decomposing organic matter at a microscopic level.

Important Note: Detritivores are distinct from decomposers (like bacteria and fungi), which break down organic matter into simpler compounds. While detritivores consume detritus directly, decomposers break it down externally.