fauna

noun

fau·​na ˈfȯ-nə 

ˈfä-

plural faunas also faunae ˈfȯ-ˌnē  -ˌnī 

ˈfä-

: animal life

especially : the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment

the diverse fauna of the island

compare flora

faunal

ˈfȯ-nᵊl 

ˈfä-

adjective

faunally adverb

Did you know?

Faunus and Fauna were the Roman woodland god and goddess for whom animals were a particular concern. Faunus was the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Pan, and like Pan, he had goats' legs. Their goat-legged helpers, called fauns, were known for their love of pleasure and mischief. The fauna of a continent are often very similar across a broad east-west band; from north to south, however, they may vary greatly.

Examples of fauna in a Sentence

studying the diverse fauna of the island

studying the faunas of different islands

Recent Examples on the Web

Hugging the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the Papagayo Peninsula distills the best of this tropical wonderland with its richly diverse flora and fauna, its opportunities for adventure and exploration, and a seclusion that beckons elite travelers to this luxurious enclave. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2024

These blooms block out light and reduce oxygen levels in waters underneath, threatening the survival of native aquatic flora and fauna. —Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 22 Nov. 2024

The biodiversity in the flora and fauna is simply unparalleled. —Brent Rose, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2024

Saudi cuisine has a wide range of styles, flavors, customs, and cultural nuances, as each of the nation's 13 distinct regions (known as emirates) has its own flora, fauna, and landscape — and, in turn, unique produce and cuisine. —Paul Feinstein, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin Fauna, sister of Faunus

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fauna

noun

fau·​na ˈfȯn-ə 

ˈfän-

plural faunas also faunae -ˌē 

-ˌī

: animals or animal life especially of a region, period, or environment

faunal

-ᵊl 

adjective

Medical Definition

fauna

noun

fau·​na ˈfȯn-ə, ˈfän- 

plural faunas also faunae -ˌē  -ˌī 

: animal life

especially : the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment compare flora sense 1

faunal

-ᵊl 

adjective

faunally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb