nekton

nek·ton  (nktn, -tn)

n.

The collection of marine and freshwater organisms that can swim freely and are generally independent of currents, ranging in size from microscopic organisms to whales.

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[Greek nkton, neuter of nktos, swimming, from nkhein, to swim; see sn- in Indo-European roots.]

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nek·tonic (-tnk) adj.

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nekton [ˈnɛktɒn]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the population of free-swimming animals that inhabits the middle depths of a sea or lake Compare plankton

[via German from Greek nēkton a swimming thing, from nēkhein to swim]

nektonic  adj

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nekton  (nktn, -tn)

The collection of marine and freshwater organisms that can swim freely and are generally independent of currents, ranging in size from microscopic organisms to whales. Compare benthosplankton

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

nekton - the aggregate of actively swimming animals in a body of water ranging from microscopic organisms to whales organism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently congeries, conglomeration, aggregate - a sum total of many heterogenous things taken together