Sarcophagy is the act of feeding on flesh or eating meat. Synonyms for the word include carnivorous, predatory, flesh-eating, meat-eating, and vulturous. Additionally, terms like hunter, predator and scavenger apply equally well and reflect the nature of the process and the creatures that engage in it. These words are often used in the context of animals such as hyenas, sharks, and vultures that feed on the flesh of other animals. Sarcophagy, although not particularly pleasant, is an important ecological function that helps to control populations and maintain balance in the natural world.