Sealife guideThe sea life glossaryOur glossaries

Last updated on 04/15/2026 at 10:19 PM

English

Description

French

Français

pelagic

Définition

Living in the open water, away from the shore and the sea bottom.

Anglais

pélagique

Français

phytoplankton

Définition

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that drift in water and form the base of aquatic food chains.

Anglais

phytoplancton

Français

pinacocyte

Définition

A flat, thin cell that forms the outer layer of a sponge, providing protection and structural support.

Anglais

pinacocyte

Français

plankton

Définition

Tiny organisms that drift in water currents, including both plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton).

Anglais

plancton

Français

porocyte

Définition

A tubular cell in sponges that forms a pore, allowing water to flow into the sponge's body.

Anglais

porocyte

Français

protandrous

Définition

An individual organism that starts life as a male and later may change to a female.

Anglais

protandre

Français

protandry

Définition

A form of sequential hermaphroditism in which an organism starts life as a male and later changes to a female.

Anglais

protérandrie

Français

protogynous

Définition

An individual organism that starts life as a female and later may change to a male.

Anglais

protogyne

Français

protogyny

Définition

A form of sequential hermaphroditism in which an organism starts life as a female and later changes to a male.

Anglais

protogynie

Français

protophyte

Définition

A simple, primarily microscopic, plant-like organism, such as algae or bacteria, that performs photosynthesis or other basic life processes.

Anglais

protophyte

Français

protozoan

Définition

A single-celled, microscopic organism that can move independently and often feeds on organic matter.

Anglais

protozoaire

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Requin pointe blanche océanique ou requin longimanus
(Carcharhinus longimanus)