Carrion 213008 225393946 2008-07-13T13:14:56Z 71.89.16.123 My 6 year old has animal cards that say that black bears eat carrion, so we added it! {{otheruses}} [[Image:Wedge-tailed Eagle.jpg‎|thumb|A Wedge-tailed Eagle feeding on carrion (Kangaroo) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.]] '''Carrion''' (from the Latin ''caro'', meaning meat) refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large [[carnivore]]s and [[omnivore]]s in most [[ecosystem]]s. Examples of carrion-eaters or [[scavengers]], include [[hyena]]s, [[vulture]]s, [[Virginia Opossum]], [[Tasmanian Devil]]s, [[Black Bear]]s, [[Bald Eagle]]s, [[Raccoons]] and [[Blue-tongued lizard]]s. Many [[invertebrates]], such as worms and [[carrion beetle]]s (family ''Silphidae'') also eat carrion and play an important role in recycling animal remains. Carrion begins to decay the moment of the animal's death, and it will increasingly attract insects and breed [[bacteria]]. Not long after the animal has died, its body will begin to smell of a foul odour, caused by the presence of bacteria, and the emission of [[cadaverine]] and [[putrescine]]. Some [[plant]]s and [[fungus|fungi]] smell like [[Decomposition|decomposing]] carrion and attract [[insect]]s that aid in [[reproduction]]. Plants that exhibit this behavior are known as [[carrion flower]]s. [[Stinkhorn]] [[mushroom]]s are examples of [[fungus|fungi]] with this characteristic. {{ecology-stub}} [[Category:Zoology]] [[Category:Ecology]] [[Category:Death]] [[an:Carnuz]] [[da:Ådsel]] [[de:Aas]] [[es:Carroña]] [[fr:Charogne]] [[os:Хæдмæл]] [[it:Carogna]] [[he:פגר]] [[nl:Aas (kadaver)]] [[no:Kadaver]] [[nn:Åtsel]] [[pl:Padlina]] [[pt:Carniça]] [[ru:Падаль]] [[simple:Carrion]] [[sv:Kadaver]] [[tr:Leş]] [[uk:Падаль]]