Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

epifauna

noun
epi·​fau·​na | \ ˌe-pi-ˈfȯ-nə How to pronounce epifauna (audio) , -ˈfä-\

Definition of epifauna

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

Other Words from epifauna

epifaunal \ ˌe-​pi-​ˈfȯ-​nᵊl How to pronounce epifaunal (audio) , -​ˈfä-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of epifauna

circa 1914, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for epifauna

New Latin

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about epifauna

Dictionary Entries near epifauna

epidural

epieikeia

Epifagus

epifauna

epifocal

Epigaea

epigamic

Statistics for epifauna

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for epifauna

The first known use of epifauna was circa 1914

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on epifauna

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with epifauna

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about epifauna

Comments on epifauna

What made you want to look up epifauna? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

bower

Listen to the pronounciation of bower

a shady place in a garden or forest

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Original Meanings Quiz

  • rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor
  • Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games