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fauna

[faw-nuh]
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noun, plural fau·nas, fau·nae [faw-nee] /ˈfɔ ni/.
  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) Roman Religion. Bona Dea.
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Origin of fauna

1765–75; < New Latin, special use of Latin Fauna, a feminine counterpart to Faunus; cf. Flora
Related formsfau·nal, adjectivefau·nal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for faunal

Historical Examples

  • But three species are found in the faunal region of which this book treats.

    The Butterfly Book

    William Jacob Holland

  • But two species of the genus are known within our faunal limits.

    The Butterfly Book

    William Jacob Holland

  • Only one genus is represented in our faunal region, the genus Libythea.

    The Butterfly Book

    William Jacob Holland

  • Faunal relationships and geographic distribution of mammals in Oklahoma.

  • Four faunal associations seem to be recognizable in the area.

British Dictionary definitions for faunal

fauna

noun plural -nas or -nae (-niː)
  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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Derived Formsfaunal, adjectivefaunally, adverb

Word Origin

C18: from New Latin, from Late Latin Fauna a goddess, sister of Faunus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for faunal

adj.

1877, from fauna + -al (1).

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fauna

n.

1771, collective name for animals of a certain region or time, from Late Latin Fauna, a Roman fertility goddess, wife, sister, or daughter (or some combination thereof) of Faunus (see faun).

Popularized by Linnaeus, who adopted it as a companion word to flora and used it in the title of his 1746 catalogue of the animals of Sweden, "Fauna Suecica." First used in English by naturalist Gilbert White.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
faunal in Medicine

fauna

(fô′nə)
n. pl. fau•nas
  1. Animals, especially the animals of a particular region or period, considered as a group.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
faunal in Science

fauna

[fô′nə]
Plural faunas faunae (fô′nē′)
  1. The animals of a particular region or time period.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
faunal in Culture

fauna

[(faw-nuh)]

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

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.