Home›Fish›Habitat›Neritic ZoneBiomeNeritic ZoneMarine and Coastal BiomesReference and ClassificationVerifiedThe neritic zone is the relatively shallow part of the ocean above the drop-off of the continental shelf, extending to a depth of about 200 meters. Sunlight reaches the ocean floor throughout the zone, keeping it within the photic zone where photosynthesis can occur, and its abundant light, well-oxygenated water and stable temperature and salinity make it exceptionally productive. These conditions let the neritic zone support the majority of the world's marine life and commercial fisheries through high primary production and complex food webs.FactsNeritic ZoneConnectionsSourcesTake a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsClimateTypical Low Temperature (C)Well-attested-2 1Same reasoning as the neritic zone high figure: shallow shelf water shares the polar surface freezing point already used for Open Ocean and Marine.Typical High Temperature (C)Well-attested30 1The neritic zone is the shallow, surface-connected water over the continental shelf, so it shares the same tropical surface temperature extreme as the Open Ocean and Marine biomes on the same source.DisputedAnnual Precipitation (mm)Scholarly debate990 2Same global land+ocean blended figure and caveat used for Open Ocean and Marine; the neritic zone has no isolated shelf-water precipitation figure on an accessible source.Neritic ZoneFilter Results4 entriesCommon GroupAllOther Bony Fish (1)Perch-Like Fishes (Perciformes) (2)Salmon And Trout (Salmoniformes) (1)Everyday GroupAllOther Bony Fish (1)Perch-Like Fishes (Perciformes) (2)Salmon And Trout (Salmoniformes) (1)Where It LivesAllAntigua and Barbuda (1)Bahamas (2)Barbados (1)Belize (1)Brazil (2)Canada (2)Chile (1)China (1)Colombia (1)Costa Rica (1)Cuba (1)Denmark (1)Dominica (1)Dominican Republic (1)Finland (1)France (1)Germany (1)Grenada (1)Gulf of Mexico (1)Iceland (1)Iran (1)Ireland (1)Japan (1)Latvia (1)Mexico (2)North America (1)Norway (1)South Korea (1)Sweden (1)The Caribbean (1)United Kingdom (1)United States (1)Venezuela (1)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (1)Vulnerable (3)DietAllCarnivore (4)System (Realm)AllFreshwater (1)Marine (4)Living or ExtinctAllYes (4)ThreatsAllPollution (1)Relationship to PeopleAllFarmed or Commercially Raised (1)Hunted or Fished (2)Invasive or Introduced Species (1)Kept as Pets (1)CITES AppendixAllAppendix II (1)Not Listed (2)NatureServe RankAllG5 Secure (1)GNR Unranked (2)EcosystemAllCoral Reef Systems (2)Great Lakes (1)TaxonomyAllOncorhynchus (1)Perciformes (2)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 4Goliath GrouperNeritic ZoneLined SeahorseNeritic ZonePink SalmonNeritic ZoneRed SnapperNeritic ZoneConnectionsDemonstratesUpwelling, Natural Phenomena Well-attested Home ToBlack-headed gull, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Chroicocephalus ridibundusBlue King Crab, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Paralithodes platypusBootlace Worm (Lineus longissimus), Species Well-attested Source GBIF: Lineus longissimusBridled tern, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Onychoprion anaethetusCoconut Octopus, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Amphioctopus marginatus summaryCommon murre, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Uria aalgeDusky dolphin, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Lagenorhynchus obscurus summaryFlatback Sea Turtle, Species Well-attested Source Flatback Sea Turtle (Wikipedia)tier 2Glaucous Gull, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Larus hyperboreusGoliath Grouper, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe: NatureServe Explorer: Epinephelus itajaraGray Whale, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Eschrichtius robustusGrey Seal, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Halichoerus grypusHaliotis Discus, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Haliotis discus summaryJapanese Flying Squid, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Todarodes pacificus summaryLeast tern, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Sternula antillarumLesser black-backed gull, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Larus fuscusLined Seahorse, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Lined seahorseNautilus vitiensis, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Nautilus vitiensisNorth Atlantic Right Whale, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Eubalaena glacialisNorthern Gannet (Morus bassanus), Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Morus bassanusOlive Ridley Sea Turtle, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Lepidochelys olivaceaOrmer, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Haliotis tuberculataPantropical spotted dolphin, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Stenella attenuataPink Salmon, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Oncorhynchus gorbuschaRazorbill, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Alca tordaRed Snapper, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Lutjanus campechanusRoyal tern, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Thalasseus maximusSea Walnut (Mnemiopsis leidyi), Species Well-attested Source NatureServe: NatureServe Explorer: Mnemiopsis leidyiSkeletonema Costatum, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Skeletonema costatumtier 2Spanner Crab, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Ranina raninaStaghorn Coral, Species Well-attested Source NatureServe Explorer: Acropora cervicornisSundial Snail, Species Well-attested Source SeaLifeBase: Architectonica perspectiva summaryUmbrina cirrosa, Species Well-attested Source Umbrina cirrosa (Wikipedia)Sources1. How Does the Temperature of Ocean Water Vary? (NOAA Ocean Exploration)NOAA Ocean ExplorationIntroductionQuote, IntroductionThese variations in solar energy mean that the ocean surface can vary in temperature from a warm 30°C (86°F) in the tropics to a very cold -2°C (28°F) near the poles.View the Source2. Precipitation (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaWikipedia, Precipitation, lead sectionQuote, Wikipedia, Precipitation, lead sectionthe globally averaged annual precipitation is 990 millimetres (39 in), but over land it is only 715 millimetres (28.1 in)View the SourceFlatback Sea Turtle (Wikipedia)tier 2Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Flatback Sea Turtle, Lead sectionQuote, Home To: Flatback Sea Turtle, Lead sectionThe species is endemic to the sandy beaches and shallow coastal waters of the Australian continental shelf.View the SourceWikipedia: Skeletonema costatumtier 2WikipediaHome To: Skeletonema Costatum, Distribution and habitatQuote, Home To: Skeletonema Costatum, Distribution and habitatSkeletonema costatum primarily resides in the neritic zone and is commonly found in brackish waters as opposed to the more oceanic, S. tropicum.View the SourceUmbrina cirrosa (Wikipedia)Home To: Umbrina cirrosa, Habitat and behaviourQuote, Home To: Umbrina cirrosa, Habitat and behaviourUmbrina cirrosa is a demersal species which is found in inshore waters, over both rock and sandy sea beds.View the SourceWikipedia: Lined seahorseHome To: Lined Seahorse, Habitat and distributionQuote, Home To: Lined Seahorse, Habitat and distributionIts habitats are marine intertidal and marine neritic.View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Oncorhynchus gorbuschaNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Pink Salmon, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Pink Salmon, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Lutjanus campechanusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Red Snapper, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Red Snapper, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Paralithodes platypusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Blue King Crab, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Blue King Crab, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Acropora cervicornisNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Staghorn Coral, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Staghorn Coral, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Chroicocephalus ridibundusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Black-headed gull, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Black-headed gull, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Thalasseus maximusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Royal tern, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Royal tern, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Sternula antillarumNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Least tern, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Least tern, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Onychoprion anaethetusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Bridled tern, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Bridled tern, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Eschrichtius robustusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Gray Whale, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Gray Whale, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Eubalaena glacialisNatureServe ExplorerHome To: North Atlantic Right Whale, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: North Atlantic Right Whale, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Morus bassanusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Lepidochelys olivaceaNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Stenella attenuataNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Pantropical spotted dolphin, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Pantropical spotted dolphin, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Halichoerus grypusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Grey Seal, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Grey Seal, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Alca tordaNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Razorbill, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Razorbill, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Larus fuscusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Lesser black-backed gull, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Lesser black-backed gull, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Uria aalgeNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Common murre, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Common murre, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe Explorer: Larus hyperboreusNatureServe ExplorerHome To: Glaucous Gull, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Glaucous Gull, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe: NatureServe Explorer: Epinephelus itajaraNatureServeHome To: Goliath Grouper, Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Goliath Grouper, Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceNatureServe: NatureServe Explorer: Mnemiopsis leidyiNatureServeHome To: Sea Walnut (Mnemiopsis leidyi), Species characteristics: Near shoreQuote, Home To: Sea Walnut (Mnemiopsis leidyi), Species characteristics: Near shore"marineHabitatDescEn": "Near shore"View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Architectonica perspectiva summarySeaLifeBaseHome To: Sundial Snail, BiologyQuote, Home To: Sundial Snail, BiologyFound on sandy, weedy bottoms (Ref. 799 ) and muddy bottoms, in sublittoral areas (Ref. 128042 ).View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Todarodes pacificus summarySeaLifeBaseHome To: Japanese Flying Squid, BiologyQuote, Home To: Japanese Flying Squid, BiologyLives in surface waters of open oceans and coastal areas (Ref. 843 ).View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Amphioctopus marginatus summarySeaLifeBaseHome To: Coconut Octopus, BiologyQuote, Home To: Coconut Octopus, BiologyFound from shallow subtidal to at least 190 meters.View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Haliotis tuberculataSeaLifeBaseHome To: Ormer, BiologyQuote, Home To: Ormer, BiologyCollected from the sublittoral zone, from low tide up to a depth of 200 m (Ref. 2754 ).View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Haliotis discus summarySeaLifeBaseHome To: Haliotis Discus, BiologyQuote, Home To: Haliotis Discus, BiologyFound along coastal waters (Ref. 106888 ).View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Lagenorhynchus obscurus summarySeaLifeBaseHome To: Dusky dolphin, BiologyQuote, Home To: Dusky dolphin, BiologyFound over the continental shelf and slope.View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Ranina raninaSeaLifeBaseHome To: Spanner Crab, BiologyQuote, Home To: Spanner Crab, BiologyOccupies the sublittoral zone (Ref. 77016 ).View the SourceSeaLifeBase: Nautilus vitiensisSeaLifeBaseHome To: Nautilus vitiensis, BiologyQuote, Home To: Nautilus vitiensis, BiologyInhabits areas along the coast (Ref. 128155 ).View the SourceGBIF: Lineus longissimusGBIFHome To: Bootlace Worm (Lineus longissimus), Descriptions: habitatQuote, Home To: Bootlace Worm (Lineus longissimus), Descriptions: habitatIn deeper sub-littoral areas, it occurs on muddy, sandy, stony or shelly substrata.View the SourceTake a 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