bentho-, benth-
(Greek: deep, depth; the fauna and flora of the bottom of the sea; sea bottom; depth [by extension, this element includes lake, river, and stream bottoms])
rhizobenthic (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to a living thing that is anchored in the substratum: Algae is not normally considered to be true rhizobenthic organisms because it is attached to pebbles or shells concealed or hidden in the sediment and not firmly established in the stratum. But since they occur in sandy-silty areas they are still considered to be rhizobenthos.
An organism rooted in the substratum: A rhizobenthos is attached to the substrate and well extended into the water column.
stenobenthic (adjective) (not comparable)
Regarding a pelagic organism that inhabits certain limits of depth in a sea: Opposed to eurybathic, stenobenthic creatures thrive in a limited region of deepness in an ocean or lake.
An organism that lives within a narrow range of depth on the sea bottom or lake bed: Mike listened to the lecture the biology professor was giving on the topic of stenobenthos, the living things that dwell inside a limited scope of depth in the deepness of an ocean.
zoobenthic (adjective) (not comparable)
Concerning an animal, or animals, inhabiting the seabed or ocean floor: The types of zoobenthic organisms that exist were exemplified in Jane's biology book and were talked about in class the following day.
The fauna living in or on the seabed or lake floor: Zoobenthos is the term given to the aquatic bottom-dwelling organisms, including such animals as the sponges, lobsters, and polychaete worms.
Inter-related cross references, directly or indirectly, involving the "sea" and the "ocean" bodies of water: abysso- (bottomless); Atlantic; batho-, bathy- (depth); halio-, halo- (salt or "the sea"); mare, mari- (sea); necto-, nekto- (swimming); oceano-; pelago- (sea, ocean); plankto- (drifting); thalasso- (sea, ocean).
