infauna

[ in-faw-nuh ]

noun,plural in·fau·nas, in·fau·nae

[in-faw-nee]. /ˈɪnˌfɔ ni/. Ecology.

the aggregate of animals that burrow into and live in the bottom deposits of an ocean, river, or lake.

Origin of infauna

¹

First recorded in 1910–15; in-¹ + fauna

Other words from infauna

infaunal, adjective

Compare epifauna.

Words Nearby infauna

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Scientific definitions for infauna

infauna

[ ĭn′fô′nə ]

Benthic animals that live in the substrate of a body of water, especially in a soft sea bottom. Infauna usually construct tubes or burrows and are commonly found in deeper and subtidal waters. Clams, tubeworms, and burrowing crabs are infaunal animals. Compare epifauna.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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