Sealife guideThe sea life glossaryOur glossaries

Last updated on 09/03/2025 at 11:27 PM
English
Description
French
P
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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Our latestUpdates

The common sea fan
Friday, November 7th 2025
The common sea fan
The common sea fan, is a type of soft coral found in the warm, shallow waters of the Caribbean and the western Atlantic ocean. It grows in wide, fan-shaped forms that sway gently with the ocean currents, helping it catch tiny food particles drifting by. Its beautiful purple branches are covered by a thin living tissue that hosts tiny algae, which provide much of the coral's energy through sunlight.
The leopard blenny
Thursday, October 30th 2025
The leopard blenny
The leopard blenny is a small reef fish from the Indo-Pacific ocean. It is easily recognized by its spotted coloration, which resembles that of a leopard. It lives on shallow coral reefs, feeds mainly on algae and polyps and skillfully camouflages among the corals to avoid predators.
The Spanish slipper lobster
Monday, October 27th 2025
The Spanish slipper lobster
The Spanish slipper lobster is a colorful crustacean found around reefs in the tropical waters of the northwestern Atlantic. Its flattened body and distinctive antennae allow it to hide in crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed on benthic invertebrates.
Photo of the Day
Poisson crapaud splendide (Sanopus splendidus)
Poisson crapaud splendide
(Sanopus splendidus)