Bottom-dwelling refers to living or settling at the lowest part of a body of water. Synonyms for this term include benthic, abyssal, littoral, and subaqueous. Benthic and abyssal are often used to refer to creatures that live on the ocean floor, whereas littoral suggests a more shallow water environment. Subaqueous simply means below water or underwater, which can refer to any depth. Other synonyms for bottom-dwelling include demersal, which specifically refers to fish that live near the ocean floor, and profundal, which refers to aquatic organisms that live in the deep, dark parts of lakes and ponds. Overall, these synonyms help convey the specific habitat of aquatic organisms and their position within their environment.