What is the organism that eats autotrophs called?
Autotrophs are living beings that are able to derive energy from
a source other than another living being- the source being sunlight
or chemicals in the environment. Autotrophs include but are not
limited to; plants who photosynthesize sunlight into chemical
energy and microorganisms that live off of the chemicals secreted
by hydrothermal vents deep under the ocean.
With that being said, many things eat autotrophs- as a matter of
fact most food systems start with auotrophs at the bottom.
Some animals that eat autotrophs - Humans, dogs, hummingbirds,
cows and horses. These animals are more largely called heterotrophs
because they cannot derive their metabolic energy on their own-
they must consume it through their diet by eating plants if they
are herbivorous or meat if they are carnivorous.