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mycophage

mycophage

9.9
A person or animal that eats mushrooms and other fungi
  • noun
  • /ˈmaɪkəˌfeɪdʒ/
  • Specialized
: micófago
  • Certain insects are considered mycophages because they feed primarily on wild mushrooms.

Examples

  • Scientists observed a previously unknown mycophage in the rainforest ecosystem.

  • Some animals are natural mycophages that thrive in damp environments.

  • The mycophage habits of some mammals help in the dispersal of fungal spores.

  • A mycophage can be found in many forests.

  • Certain insects are considered mycophages because they feed primarily on wild mushrooms.

  • Some animals are natural mycophages that thrive in damp environments.

  • The mycophage habits of some mammals help in the dispersal of fungal spores.

Synonyms

mycophagist
vsmycophage
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A person or animal that eats mushrooms

is broader, covering any organism that feeds on fungi not only people or animals

Surface Forms

mycophage singular
mycophages plural

Morphology

mycophage = phage (opaque) = myco + phage + myco

The combination uses specialized Greek combining forms ('myco-' and '-phage') that are not recognizable to an average B1 learner, so the meaning cannot be derived from common English bases.

Etymology

Mycophage is made of two parts: myco- meaning 'fungus' and -phage meaning 'to eat'. So a mycophage is literally a 'fungus-eater', an animal or person that eats mushrooms and other fungi.