Of or relating to plankton.

A visble population explosion in plankton, typically involving phytoplankton, and normally resulting from an increase or excess of available nutrients.

In cladistics, a character or trait shared by two or more taxonomic groups but derived from a remote or much earlier common ancestral form and therefore cannot be used to define a clade. Also known as an ancestral state and generally appears at the base level of a cladogram.

Having several cusps, as teeth.

An organism having a body temperature that varies with the temperature of its surroundings; a cold-blooded organism.

Reproductive behaviour in which a female spawns with more than one male during the breeding season.

Reproductive behaviour in which an individual spawns with more than a single partner during the breeding season.

Reproductive behaviour in which a male spawns with more than one female during the breeding season.

Displaying polymorphism.

The occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individuals or multiple organisms of the same species independent of sexual variation.

One of two types of body form occurring in coelenterates, comprising a hollow cylindrical body with a ring of tentacles around the mouth.

Feeding on numerous food types; having a generalistic diet.

Relating to or characterised by descent from more than one ancestral form. A polyphyletic taxon is therefore one whose members' last common ancestor is not a member of the taxon.

A section of a phylogeny in which the evolutionary relationships can not be fully resolved to dichotomies.

See exophthalmia.

Group of individuals of a given taxon occupying a particular geographic area or specified habitat.

Small opening in a surface, especially the skin, through which gases, liquids or microscopic particles are able to pass, or through which a sensory organ obtains information.

A scale possessing a visible pore, e.g. a lateral line scale.

Shallow groove located behind one or both lips in certain fishes.

Located posterior to the cleithrum.