fauna

[ faw-nuh ]

noun

, plural fau·nas, fau·nae [faw, -nee].

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.

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

/ fô′nə /

, Plural faunas fô′nē′

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

fauna

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

Derived Forms

• ˈfaunal, adjective
• ˈfaunally, adverb

Other Words From

• faunal adjective
• faunal·ly 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

The area is a disturbed wetland, invaded by non-native melaleuca trees that have crowded out native flora and fauna.

From The Daily Beast

You think of the rainforest as this incredibly abundant place of fauna and animals and flora.

From The Daily Beast

I kept my word and now I am beginning to make acquaintance with the flora and fauna of my little wood.

From Project Gutenberg

The fauna is not abundant except in large mammals, which are very numerous on the drier steppes.

From Project Gutenberg

It was obviously unfair to expect her to be familiar with the flora and fauna of every part of the great Australian Continent.

From Project Gutenberg

In the fauna of the region that I had traversed I had noted changes corresponding to those in the flora.

From Project Gutenberg

I may conclude this chapter by a brief view of the Fauna of the higher vertebral animals.

From Project Gutenberg