Relating to surface-level or external nutrition or nourishment, particularly in parasitology where organisms feed on external surfaces rather than internally.
From Greek 'epi-' (upon, external) combined with 'trophic,' derived from 'trophe' (nourishment). The term describes feeding patterns on outer surfaces.
Parasites that are epitrophic, like certain lice or mites, eat your skin and oils from the surface—they're bad enough, but at least they don't burrow deep inside like some other parasites do.
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