microfauna
noun
mi·cro·fau·na
ˌmī-krō-ˈfȯ-nə 
-ˈfä-
1
: minute animals
especially
: those invisible to the naked eye
the soil microfauna
2
: a small or strictly localized fauna (as of a microenvironment)
Examples of microfauna in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Reefs in other isolated locations, such as the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Mozambique Canal, also are likely to have unique microfauna and microbiofauna.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 2 June 2023
The museum's exhibits also include some of the world's largest megafauna, thought to be 50,000 to 100,000 years old, and a variety of microfauna.
—CNN, 17 July 2022
To get the award-winning shot, Weston used a 1970s microscope and created a saline solution to hold the microfauna.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Aug. 2021
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 2 June 2023
The museum's exhibits also include some of the world's largest megafauna, thought to be 50,000 to 100,000 years old, and a variety of microfauna.
—CNN, 17 July 2022
To get the award-winning shot, Weston used a 1970s microscope and created a saline solution to hold the microfauna.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Aug. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'microfauna.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin
First Known Use
1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near microfauna
Cite this Entry
“Microfauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microfauna. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
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Medical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on microfauna
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about microfauna
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