nektonicadj.
/nɛkˈtɒnɪk/, U.S. /nɛkˈtɑnɪk/ Biology.
Of, belonging to, or characteristic of nekton; designating aquatic organisms which can swim and move independently of water currents. Cf. planktonic adj.
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the world > animals > by habitat > [adjective] > aquatic
aquatic1642
water-breathing1827
nektonic1896
rheophile1934
rheophilic1939
rheophilous1941
1896 Science 6 Mar. 360/2 Among the benthonic animals three groups are distinguished according to their more or less intimate connection with the bottom;..third, nectonic benthos, able to swim, able to leave the bottom at times, but always forced to return to it.
1903 Amer. Geologist 31 211 It has been asserted..that slowly creeping organisms preceded the planktonic and nektonic forms.
1956 Nature 25 Feb. 375/2 Only one nektonic species apart from Thyrsites itself has been found to occur in Bass Strait at the time of year in question.
1969 Austral. Law Jrnl. 43 430 The nectonic species of fish are divided into demersal and pelagic.
2001 Jrnl. Freshwater Ecol. 16 229 The Topeka shiner functions both as a benthic and nektonic feeder.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1896