epifauna

noun

epi·​fau·​na ˌe-pi-ˈfȯ-nə 

-ˈfä-

: benthic fauna living on the substrate (such as a hard sea floor) or on other organisms compare infauna

epifaunal

ˌe-pi-ˈfȯ-nᵊl 

-ˈfä-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1914, in the meaning defined above