the population of free-swimming animals that inhabits the middle depths of a sea or lake
Compare plankton
Derived forms
nektonic (nekˈtonic)
adjective
Word origin
C19: via German from Greek nēkton a swimming thing, from nēkhein to swim
nekton in American English
(ˈnɛkˌtɑn; ˈnɛktən)
noun
the larger, aquatic, free-swimming animal life having movements that are largely independent of currents and waves, including squids, fishes, and whales
Word origin
Ger < Gr nēkton, neut. of nēktos, swimming < nēchein, to swim: see natant