faun-, fauni-, fauna-, -fauna

(Latin: animal; a collective name for the animals of a certain region or time)

faunistic (adjective), more faunistic, most faunistic
Pertaining to living organisms other than humans that feed on organic matter and normally have specialized sense organs with a nervous system and which can respond rapidly to various activities around them.
faunistics (used as singular) (pl) (noun)
1. The study of all or part of the animal species of a particular locality or region.
2. The classification of animals
faunizone (s) (noun), faunizones (pl)
In geology, a body of strata characterized by a distinctive assemblage of animal fossils.
faunoiphilia (s) (noun); faunoiphilias, faunoiphiliae (pl)
An abnormal desire to watch animals copulate: "Arousal from faunoiphilia may involve animals that are mating of different sizes, ages, species, or a combination of the three."
faunological (adjective)
Of or pertaining to faunology or the study of the animal life of a particular time or region or a treatise or writing about the animal life of a particular time or region.
faunology (s) (noun), faunologies (pl)
That section of zoology that deals with the geographical distribution of animals; zoogeography.
A study of animals and their characteristics.
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faunula (s) (noun); faunulae, faunules (pl)
1. The animal population of a small geographical area or microhabitat.
2. The population of a micro-environmental niche; such as, intestine, bark, etc.
faunule (s) (noun); faunules (pl)
In paleontology, a small community of fauna, especially a group of animal fossils found only in a single stratum or in a succession of thin strata.
Faunus (s) (noun)
An Italian deity of agriculture; identified later with Pan.

A Roman god of the forests and rural areas, he was patron of herding, hunting, and husbandry. He was worshiped in groves, where his oracles were heard by a visitant while asleep on a sacred fleece. He revealed nature's secrets to men only. His priests were the Luperci; his main festival the Lupercalia. Two festivals called Faunalia were celebrated on February 13 and December 5.

Faunus was identified with the Sylvanus and the Greek god Pan. He was considered a good spirit of forests and fields, and a god of prophecy. He had the form of a Satyr (a creature with goat-like ears, pug-nose, short tail, and budding horns) and is identified with the Greek god Pan (Greek woodland spirit or deity). At his festivals, called Faunalia, peasants brought rustic offerings and had a "merry" time.

Faunus (s) (noun)
In Roman mythology, the god of nature, farming (agriculture and cattle-raising), fertility, hunting, and herding.

He was also considered the guardian of the secret lore of nature. His priests were the Luperci and his social festival was the Lupercalia. The Greek equivalent to Faunus is Pan.

herpetofauna (s) (noun), herpetofaunas (pl)
A collective term for reptiles and amphibians.
ichnofauna (s) (noun), ichnofaunas (pl)
The zoological creatures that make trackways, traces, or footprints.
ichthyofauna (s) (noun), ichthyofaunas (pl)
1. All the fish that live in a particular area.
2. The fish-life of a sea or region of the sea.
ichthyofaunal (adjective)
infauna (s) (noun), infaunas (pl)
1. The total animal life within a sediment; endobenthos.
2. Those bottom-dwelling forms that burrow.

Related "animal" units: anima-; therio-; zoo-.