megafauna
noun
mega·fau·na
ˈme-gə-ˌfȯ-nə 
-ˌfä-
1
: animals (such as bears, bison, or mammoths) of particularly large size
2
: fauna consisting of individuals large enough to be visible to the naked eye
Examples of megafauna in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Comal County just north of San Antonio, Bender’s Cave is yielding an unprecedented look at the megafauna that once roamed the region around 100,000 years ago.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Sequencing the genomes of such extinct megafauna can help identify the culprit behind their extinction, providing tools to counter the pervasive threats species face today.
—Jeanne Timmons, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
In Greenland, temperatures shot up by as much as 18 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of decades, pushing other Arctic megafauna to extinction.
—Maggie Koerth, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
The park’s expansive wilderness is home to treasured megafauna, from bears and wolves to herds of bison and elk, all of which visitors regularly spot.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for megafauna
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Sequencing the genomes of such extinct megafauna can help identify the culprit behind their extinction, providing tools to counter the pervasive threats species face today.
—Jeanne Timmons, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
In Greenland, temperatures shot up by as much as 18 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of decades, pushing other Arctic megafauna to extinction.
—Maggie Koerth, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
The park’s expansive wilderness is home to treasured megafauna, from bears and wolves to herds of bison and elk, all of which visitors regularly spot.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for megafauna
Cite this Entry
“Megafauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/megafauna. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
