The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Nekton are aquatic animals that swim or move freely in the water. Their movement is generally not controlled by waves and currents. Nekton include fish, squid, marine mammals, and marine reptiles. They live in the sea, lakes, rivers, ponds, and other bodies of water.
Fish are a major segment of the nektonic animals, with approximately 14,500 kinds of fish living in the ocean. Many nekton live near the ocean surface because food is abundant there. Other nekton live in the deep ocean.
Most nekton are chordates, animals with bones or cartilage. This category of nekton includes whales, sharks, bony fish, turtles, snakes, eels, dolphins, porpoises, and seals.
Molluscan nekton like squid and octopus are invertebrates, animals with no bones. Squid, octopus, clams, and oysters are mollusks. However, molluscan nekton have no outer shells.
Molluscan nekton like squid and octopus are invertebrates, animals with no bones. Squid, octopus, clams, and oysters are mollusks. However, molluscan nekton have no outer shells.
Arthopod nekton are invertebrates like shrimp. Many arthropod live on the ocean floor.
Most nektonic mammals live only in water. However, walruses, seals, and sea otters can exist on land for a time. Other nekton mammals include manatees and dugongs, whale-like animals that live in the Indian Ocean.