1. feeding on plankton; subsisting primarily on microscopic organisms suspended in water
Usage: biology, zoology

Examples

• Baleen whales are planktivorous marine mammals that filter enormous quantities of krill from the ocean.
• Many fish species in the open ocean are planktivorous, relying on tiny organisms for nutrition.
• The planktivorous diet of anchovies makes them sensitive to changes in ocean plankton populations.
• Flamingos are planktivorous birds that use specialized beaks to filter algae and small organisms from water.
• Planktivorous zooplankton form a crucial link in aquatic food chains.