Zooplankton are
heterotrophic (sometimes
detritivorous)
plankton. Plankton are organisms drifting in
oceans,
seas, and bodies of
fresh water. The word "zooplankton" is derived from the
Greek zoon , meaning "animal", and , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Individual zooplankton are usually
microscopic, but some (such as jellyfish) are larger and visible with the naked eye.