: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
the diverse fauna of the island
compare flora
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
The country is also a top-tier safari destination thanks to its diverse array of native flora and fauna, with creatures like the sloth bear, leopard and Asian elephant all residing within its national borders.
—
Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Thanks to its subtropical climate, wildlife smuggling, and some poor management practices by residents and visitors, the state is now home to hundreds of non-native flora and fauna.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Clocking in at more than 800,000 acres, Big Bend National Park is the largest park in Texas and is known for its desert canyons, mountains, and a bevy of unique flora and fauna.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025
Visitors can fish, swim, and paddle on Lake Shelby, see native flora and fauna at the Nature Center on Middle Lake, and flit around the Butterfly Garden east of Little Lake.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025
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Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Thanks to its subtropical climate, wildlife smuggling, and some poor management practices by residents and visitors, the state is now home to hundreds of non-native flora and fauna.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Clocking in at more than 800,000 acres, Big Bend National Park is the largest park in Texas and is known for its desert canyons, mountains, and a bevy of unique flora and fauna.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025
Visitors can fish, swim, and paddle on Lake Shelby, see native flora and fauna at the Nature Center on Middle Lake, and flit around the Butterfly Garden east of Little Lake.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fauna
Cite this Entry
“Fauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fauna. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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Medical Definition
fauna
noun
fau·na
ˈfȯn-ə, ˈfän- 
: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment compare flora sense 1
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