macrophagousadj.
/məˈkrɒfəɡəs/, U.S. /məˈkrɑfəɡəs/ Zoology.
Feeding on relatively large pieces of food.
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the world > animals > by eating habits > [adjective] > on relatively large or small pieces
microphagous1920
macrophagous1949
1949 I. F. Henderson & W. D. Henderson Dict. Sci. Terms (ed. 4) 240/1 Macrophagous, feeding on relatively large masses of food; opp. microphagous.
1964 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 2 396 He finds both microphagous and macrophagous mechanisms are used in this species.
1977 T. I. Storer et al. Elements Zool. (ed. 4) iv. 62/1 Most higher animals, including humans, that use larger materials are macrophagous feeders.
1992 Pract. Fishkeeping Mar. 68/1 Dahlia Anemones are macrophagous, and infrequent meals of crabs up to 75% of the bulk of the squat form of the anemone are usual.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1949