fauna

American  

[faw-nuh] / ˈfɔ nə /

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.

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fauna British  

/ 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

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fauna Scientific  

/ fô′nə /

plural

faunas

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

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fauna Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• faunal adjective
• faunally adverb

Etymology

Origin of fauna

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

Explanation

When you go on a nature walk in a school setting, your teacher might tell you to observe the flora and fauna in the woods. Flora is plant life; fauna refers to animals. Fauna derives from the name of a Roman goddess, but the handiest way to remember the difference between flora and fauna is that flora sounds like flowers, which are part of the plant world; fauna, however, sounds like "fawn," and fawns are part of the animal kingdom.

Example Sentences

His background as an expert on South America adds color and authenticity to his narrative, offering rich descriptions of the land, flora and fauna of the Peruvian-Chilean coastline and highlands as backdrop to Miller’s adventures.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

"Describing the species encountered during these studies is a critical step in documenting the rich biodiversity of the CCZ, enabling us to communicate effectively about the fauna."

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2026

"These habitats are exceptionally rare, rich in biodiversity, support unique flora and fauna, and are impossible to recreate or replace," he said.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

She also wrote about people saving native flora and fauna, from mountain lions in need of a freeway crossing to endangered butterflies and tiny native bees.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

None but a few extremely remote islands escaped man’s notice until the modern age, and these islands kept their fauna intact.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari