Fauna

Fauna refers to all the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is Flora. Fauna, Flora, and other forms of life such as fungi are collectively referred to as Biota.

Classification

Fauna is subdivided into three types: Megafauna, Mesofauna, and Microfauna. Megafauna includes large animals of a particular region or time. Mesofauna are animals which are macroscopic enough to be seen with the naked eye but small enough to escape notice unless they are deliberately sought. Microfauna are microscopic animals, particularly those that live in the soil such as protozoa and nematodes.

Origin of the term

The term "fauna" comes from the name of Fauna, a Roman goddess of earth and fertility, the Roman god Faunus, and the related forest spirits called Fauni. All three words are cognates of the name of the Greek god Pan, and panis is the Greek equivalent of fauna.

See also

• Animal
• Biodiversity
• Biome
• Ecology
• Ecosystem
• Endangered species
• Wildlife

References

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