Faculty of translation theoretical phonetics

2.4.Grammar definition of Fauna

Word forms: plural faunas
COUNTABLE NOUN [with singular or plural verb]
Animals, especially the animals in a particular area, can be referred to as fauna.
[technical]
...the flora and fauna of the African jungle. [+ of]
Brackish waters generally support only a small range of faunas.
Synonyms: animal lfe, animals, creatures More Synonyms of fauna

Word Frequency

faunain British English

(ˈfɔːnə)
NOUNWord forms: plural -nas or -nae (-niː)
1. all the animal life of a given place or time, esp when distinguished from the plant life (flora)
2. a descriptive list of such animals


Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
faunal (ˈfaunal)
ADJECTIVE
faunally (ˈfaunally)
ADVERB
Word origin
C18: from New Latin, from Late Latin Fauna a goddess, sister of Faunus
Word Frequency

faunain American English

(ˈfɔnə)
NOUNWord forms: plural ˈfaunas or ˈfaunae (ˈfɔni)
1.  
the animals of a specified region or time
the fauna of North America
2.  
a descriptive list of such animals
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms


faunal (ˈfaunal) 
ADJECTIVE
Word origin
ModL < LL Fauna, sister of Faunus: adopted by Linnaeus (1746) as term parallel to flora

Examples of 'fauna' in a sentence

fauna

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
This fostered his love of mountains, birds and all fauna and flora ; the last preoccupation almost certainly saved his life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Such waste can disrupt biodiversity by killing off flora and fauna.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Apart from their scarcity these landscapes derive value from the flora and fauna found in them.
Cloke, Paul J (ed) Rural Land-Use Planning in Developed Nations (1989)
The experts leading each expedition will share their knowledge on the area and the local flora and fauna too.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The owner knows a great deal about local flora and fauna and can offer advice on walks suited to your interests.


Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The planners had asked for a report from an ecologist to help them decide whether it would damage any flora or fauna.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The plant has spawned human fatalities and engendered the strange fauna and flora found on the eerie headland where the derelict buildings remain.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Miles of bleached wooden board protect the flora and fauna - and keep your boots dry.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Three neighbours in an unnamed London borough are united in their fascination with the flora and fauna that lurks between the cracks in the concrete.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Your little ones can get to know the names of all the local flora and fauna in the Wildlife Detective programme.
The Sun (2011)

2.5.Geographical features of Fauna

Fauna refers to the collection of animals that are located in a geographical area of the planet or can be found during a certain period of the year or have lived in a certain area of the planet at some point in the past.

Fauna derive from the Greek name ‘Fauna’, which represents one of the Roman goddesses of the earth and fertility.

Fauna is considered the wife, the sister, or the daughter of Faunus, which is the horned god of the forest, plains and fields, and they (Fauna and Faunus) are both related to the forest spirits called Fauns.

Invertebrates. Invertebrates

Invertebrates are the first animals on the planet. Fossils (fossils) indicate that they have lived 600 million years ago. There were invertebrates from unicellular organisms (one-celled microorganisms), and since then them was a huge amount of various forms. More than 97% of all existing species — this is invertebrate. They are united by the absence of the spine (backbone). Invertebrates include:

• 
  Sponges — sponge aquatic multicellular animals.
  
• 
  Cnidarians — goad or cnidarians, aquatic species, which differ by the presence of stinging cells, which they use for hunting and protection from predators. For example, thanks to such cells, jellyfish paralyze small animals and can burn us.
  

• 
  Flatworms — flatworms.
  
• 
  Molluscs — shellfish.
  
• 
  Arthropods — arthropods.
  
• 
  Insects — insects.
  
• 
  Segmented worms — annelids.
  
• 
  Echinoderms — echinoderms, marine life.
  

Key characteristics of invertebrates:

1. 
   No backbone — no spine.
   
2. 
   Earliest animals — the very first animals.
   
3. 
   More than 97% of living species are invertebrates — over 97% of living creatures invertebrates.
   
4. 
   Ectothermic — cold-blooded.