demersaladj.
/dɪˈməːsəl/ Of the eggs of fishes: sinking to the bottom of the sea, deposited at or near the bottom. Of fish, etc.: living near the bottom.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > [adjective] > sinking to the bottom (of eggs)
demersal1889
the world > animals > fish > [adjective] > living near bottom
demersal1911
1889 Nature 13 June 159/2 The herring with its demersal eggs, fixed firmly to the bottom.
1911 Ann. Rept. Sea Fish. 1909 p. vi, in Parl. Papers XXIV Demersal fish landed from each ‘Area’ of the North Sea.
1915 A. Meek in Rep. Dove Mar. Lab. Cullercoats 14 The region where the demersal fry are mainly congregated.
1925 Public Opinion 16 Oct. 376/1 This increase was most marked in the bottom living or demersal fish.
1936 J. T. Jenkins Fishes Brit. Isles (ed. 2) 9 Practically all freshwater fish lay demersal eggs.
1959 New Scientist 7 May 1035/1 Demersal fishes (those caught near the bottom).
1968 F. R. H. Jones Fish Migration ii. 13 In the Pacific Ocean, however, demersal eggs are quite common among species whose Atlantic counterparts have pelagic eggs.
Draft additions June 2020
Designating the zone of the sea (or a large lake) that is close to its bed, immediately above the benthic zone; (esp. of fishing) concerned with or occurring in the zone close to the bed of a sea or lake.
ΚΠ
1907 Engineeering 20 Dec. 831/3 Lowestoft..possesses a fleet of sailing trawlers, which accounts for its comparatively high position in the list of demersal fishing ports.
1957 National Mus. of Canada Bull. No. 147 108 Conspicuous among a host of invertebrates in the demersal zone are sea-urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), bat-starfish (Patiri aminiata), chitons.., and top shells.
1997 Daily Tel. 26 May 1/3 We have a problem with demersal trawling of cod and haddock and with beam trawling for flatfish.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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adj.1889