Here we have compared difference between Saprophyte and Parasite
What are Parasites?
Parasites are organism which obtain food from another living organisms. Also in other words we can say that parasite are living organism which obtain food and shelter from another organism.
What are Saprotrophs?
Saprotrophs are organism which obtain food from organic remains like dead organism, excreta, fallen leaves, broken twigs, food articles etc.
What are the examples of Saprotrophs ?
Answer: Mushroom(Agaricus) and Bread Mould(Rhizopus)
What are the examples of Parasites?
Answer: Leech ,Ascaris and cuscuta
| Saprophyte | Parasite | |
| Mode of Nutrition. Nutrition is got from organic remains. | Nutrition is obtained from another living organism called HOST | |
| External Digestion. Saprophytes perform external digestion in order to solubilise the food materials. | External digestion is absent. | |
| Sucking Organs. They are absent. | Many parasites possess sucking organs. | |
| Ingestion. Only digested food is taken. | The ingested food can be predigested, semi-digested or undigested. | |
| Disease. It does not cause disease. | It often produces disease or ailment in the host. | |
| Food. it may spoil food | It robs the host of food. | |
| Ecological Role. It has an ecological role in scavenging the earth of dead organic matter and release of trapped biogeochemicals | A useful ecological role is absent. At times it may spread a disease in epidemic form. |