The benthic zone is one of the ecological regions of a body of water. It comprises the bottom—of the ocean floor, the sediment surface, and some sub-surface layers. Organisms living in this zone—that is, on or in the bottom of the body of water—are called benthos. The benthos live on the ocean floor. Starfish, oysters, clams, sea cucumbers, brittle stars and anemone are all benthos. Most benthos feed on food as it floats by or scavenge for food on the ocean floor.
