fauna

[faw-nuh]

noun

plural

faunas, faunae 

1. the animals of a given region or period considered as a whole.

2. a treatise on the animals of a given region or period.

3. (initial capital letter),  Bona Dea.

fauna

/ ˈfɔːnə /

noun

1. all the animal life of a given place or time, esp when distinguished from the plant life (flora)

2. a descriptive list of such animals

fauna

plural

faunas 

1. The animals of a particular region or time period.

fauna

1. Animals, especially the animals of a particular place and time.

Other Word Forms

• faunal adjective
• faunally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fauna¹

1765–75; < New Latin, special use of Latin Fauna, a feminine counterpart to Faunus; Flora

Word History and Origins

Origin of fauna¹

C18: from New Latin, from Late Latin Fauna a goddess, sister of _Faunus

Example Sentences

Australia, with its vast flora and fauna, is also highly vulnerable.

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"These repeated incursions into freshwater at the early divergence stage likely accelerated speciation, and are key factors in explaining the extraordinary hyper-diversity of otophysans in modern freshwater faunas."

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A US military base will not be built on the Galapagos islands famous for their unique flora and fauna, Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa said Friday.

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Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa, a staunch US ally, said Tuesday his government could host a foreign military base on the Galapagos Islands, famous their unique flora and fauna.

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Ibama said a new fauna simulation would take place "after the license is issued."

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