nekton
Self-propelled sea life
Nekton are aquatic animals that swim actively and independently, as opposed to drifting with currents.
The term distinguishes strong swimmers—fish, whales, squid, sea turtles—from plankton, which float passively.
Nekton can move against currents and navigate deliberately through the water column: The nekton of the deep ocean includes species rarely seen by humans.
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
- squidTen-armed marine mollusk
- octopusEight-limbed sea mollusk
- whaleHuge sea mammal
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
shark · seal · sea turtle · cuttlefish · ray · jellyfish · crustacean · krill
Force driving movement forward
- finsSwimming appendages
- tailRear animal appendage
- undulationRhythmic rise and fall
- hydrodynamicRelating to fluid motion
buoyancy · locomotion · musculature · streamlined · flippers · maneuverability · glide · thrust
Of the open sea
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- trophicRelating to feeding
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
food web · predator · prey · biomass · upwelling · productivity · detritus · algae
Seasonal upstream fish trek
- whale migrationSeasonal movement of marine giants
- spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
- homingSteering toward a target
- navigationDetermining position and course
breeding grounds · ocean current · anadromous · sea turtle nesting · bluefin
fish
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
dolphin · shark · seal · sea turtle · cuttlefish · ray · jellyfish · crustacean · krill · shrimp
propulsion
Force driving movement forward
- finsSwimming appendages
- tailRear animal appendage
- undulationRhythmic rise and fall
hydrodynamic · buoyancy · locomotion · musculature · streamlined · flippers · maneuverability · glide · thrust · swimming
pelagic
Of the open sea
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- trophicRelating to feeding
ecosystem · food web · predator · prey · biomass · upwelling · productivity · detritus · algae · coral reef
salmon run
Seasonal upstream fish trek
- whale migrationSeasonal movement of marine giants
- spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
- homingSteering toward a target
navigation · breeding grounds · ocean current · anadromous · sea turtle nesting · bluefin