Definition

Noun: * Bottom lurkers: A type of fish that habitually stays and hides near the bottom of a body of water, such as a lake, river, or ocean. These fish are often adapted for life on the substrate, where they may hunt for food or avoid predators.

Usage

The term is used to describe a behavioral and ecological category of fish. * It functions as a plural noun. * It is often used in biological, ecological, or fishing contexts.

Examples

• Anglers often use special bait to catch bottom lurkers like catfish and flounder.
• The muddy riverbed is home to various bottom lurkers that feed on insects and decaying matter.
• Many bottom lurkers have flattened bodies that help them blend into the seafloor.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe a person or entity that operates in a hidden, obscure, or foundational role within a system or organization.
  • In the complex network of informants, he was a true bottom lurker, gathering intelligence from the streets.

Variants and Related Words

• Bottom-dwelling (adj): Describing an organism that lives on the bottom. (e.g., )
• Demersal (adj): A technical term in marine biology for fish that live on or near the bottom of the sea.
• Benthic (adj): Relating to the bottom of a body of water or the organisms living there.

Synonyms

• Groundfish
• Bottom fish
• Demersal fish

Antonyms

• Pelagic fish (fish that live in the water column, not near the bottom or shore)
• Surface feeders

Noun

1. a fish that lurks on the bottom of a body of water