Saprobiontic

Saprobionts are organisms that digest their food externally and then absorb the products. The process is called saprotrophic nutrition. Fungi are examples of saprobiontic organisms also known as decomposers.

Saprobiontic organisms feed off dead and or decaying matter, to digest this they excrete digestive enzymes which breaks down the cell tissues allowing the organism to extract the nutrients it needs to survive while leaving the indigestible waste. This is called extracellular digestion. This is very important in ecosystems, for the nutrient cycle.

They are a form of decomposer, but not to be confused with detritivores, which digest internally.

These organisms can be a good source of extra-cellular enzymes for industrial processes such as the production of fruit juice. For instance, the fungus Aspergillus niger is used to produce pectinase. An enzyme which is used to break down pectin in the concentrate to make the juice appear more translucent.