Synanthrope

A synanthrope (from Ancient Greek σύν (sýn) 'together, with' and ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos) 'man') is an organism that adapted to live near humans and evolved to benefit (either commensally, mutually or amensally) from human settlements and their environmental modifications. The term is usually used to describe wildlife (particularly urban wildlife), including many animals and plants regarded as pests or weeds (see also anthropophilia for animals who live close to humans as parasites), but does not typically include domesticated animal and plant species (even though they are synanthropic in every sense) and captive animals in cages/pens, zoos and aquaria.

Common synanthrope habitats and niches include buildings (e.g. houses, sheds and barns), non-building structures (e.g. granaries, greenhouses, bridges and towers), urban green spaces (e.g. parks, gardens and road verges), farms and ranches, canals/ditches and ponds, sewerages and rubbish dumps. Synanthropes might move between multiple habitats during different times of the day (for foraging, sociality or sleeping) and between seasons (for mating, nesting or dormancy).

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