Definition

Referring to organisms that live or are found at or near the bottom of a body of water.

Example

Demersal fish are often caught using bottom trawling techniques.

Conversation

Did you know that some fish are demersal and live at the bottom of the ocean?

Yeah, I heard that they tend to stay close to the sea floor.

Exactly! It helps them avoid predators and find food.

That's pretty interesting — I wonder what types of fish are demersal.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Demersal** → It is formed from "de-" (meaning down) and "mersus" (from the Latin verb "mergere", meaning to plunge or sink). The word "demersal" refers to fish that live near or on the bottom of a body of water, indicating their position down in the water.

Memory Tip

Think of fish that are 'down' ('de-') at the bottom of the water, which helps you remember that 'demersal' describes fish that live near the seabed.

Visually Confused Words