benthos

[ben-thos]

noun

1. the biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean, and the littoral and supralittoral zones of the shore.

benthos

/ ˈbɛnθɒs /

noun

1. the animals and plants living at the bottom of a sea or lake

2. the bottom of a sea or lake

benthos

1. The bottom of a sea or lake.

2. The organisms living on sea or lake bottoms. The benthos are divided into sessile organisms (those that are attached to the bottom or to objects on or near the bottom) and vagrant organisms (those that crawl or swim along the bottom).

3. Compare nekton plankton See more at epifauna infauna

Other Word Forms

• benthic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of benthos¹

1890–95; < Greek bénthos depth (of the sea); akin to bathos, bathy-

Word History and Origins

Origin of benthos¹

C19: from Greek: depth; related to bathus deep