What term describes an organism that obtains food by consuming other organisms?

The term that describes an organism that obtains food by consuming other organisms is "consumer." Consumers are organisms that rely on other living organisms for their energy and nutrients. This category includes animals that eat plants (herbivores), animals that eat other animals (carnivores), and those that consume both (omnivores). In ecosystems, consumers play a crucial role in transferring energy from producers, which are organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Producers, such as plants and some microorganisms, create their own energy and are foundational to food webs, allowing consumers to thrive by providing them with the necessary energy and nutrients. Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, which is essential for the health of environments but does not involve consuming living organisms directly. Herbivores specifically consume plants, which is a more specific classification within the broader category of consumers.