infauna

noun

in·​fau·​na ˈin-ˌfȯ-nə 

-ˌfä-

: benthic fauna living in the substrate and especially in a soft sea bottom compare epifauna

infaunal

ˈin-ˌfȯ-nᵊl 

-ˌfä-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from in- entry 2 + fauna

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above