Demersal facts for kids

Demersal animals are creatures that live on or very close to the bottom of the ocean or lakes. This word is most often used to describe fish. These animals make their homes on the sea floor or lake beds, which can be made of mud, sand, gravel, or rocks.

In areas near the coast, you'll find demersal animals living on or near the continental shelf. In deeper parts of the ocean, they live on or near the continental slope or along the continental rise. They usually don't live in the very deepest parts of the ocean, like abyssal depths or the abyssal plain. However, you might find them around seamounts (underwater mountains) and islands. The word demersal comes from the Latin word demergere, which means to sink.

What are Demersal Fish?

Demersal fish are a type of fish that are also known as bottom feeders. This means they find their food on or near the sea or lake floor. They are different from pelagic fish, which live and feed in the open water, far from the bottom.

Demersal vs. Pelagic Fish

One big difference between demersal fish and pelagic fish is their fat content. Demersal fish fillets (the meat you eat) usually have very little fish oil, typically only one to four percent. Pelagic fish, on the other hand, can have a lot more oil, sometimes up to 30 percent! This is why some fish, like cod (a demersal fish), are very lean, while others, like salmon (a pelagic fish), are much fattier.