# fauna

/ˈfɔnə/ (US) · /fˈɔːnɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fauna
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. animals of a region

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic · Technical

all the animals that live in a particular place or time.

For teachers: the animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period, treated as a collective group.

- The local fauna includes several rare species of birds and small mammals.
- Conservationists are concerned that the introduction of invasive species will permanently disrupt the native fauna of the island chain.

Usage: Often paired with 'flora' to describe all living things in an area.

Teaching tip: Learners should remember that 'fauna' refers to animals, while 'flora' refers to plants; they are almost always used together in scientific or nature writing.

### 2. a book about animals

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a book or list that describes all the animals found in a specific area.

For teachers: a descriptive catalogue or treatise of the animals of a given region or period.

- He consulted a 19th-century fauna of the British Isles to identify the beetle.
- The library holds an extensive collection of regional faunas, providing a historical record of biodiversity across the continent.

Usage: In this sense, the word is countable.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized use found in academic or historical contexts.

## Examples

- The local fauna includes many rare species of birds.
- Scientists are studying how the local fauna has adapted to the rising temperatures in the desert.
- The fossil record provides a detailed window into the prehistoric fauna that roamed these plains before the last glacial maximum altered the landscape forever.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.