Pelagic

Pe-lag′ic

,

Adj.

[L.

pelagicus

.]

Of or pertaining to the ocean; – applied especially to animals that live at the surface of the ocean, away from the coast. Compare

benthic

.

,

Adj.

[L. pelagus, the sea.] Pertaining to the sea; as pelagian shells.

pelagic ‎(comparative more pelagic, superlative most pelagic)

living in the open sea

pelagic ‎(plural pelagics)

(biology) Any organism that lives in the open sea rather than in coastal or inland waters.