noun
- animals that live on the surface of the sea floor or other substrates
Usage: biology; marine science
Examples
- The rocky reef supported a diverse epifauna including sea stars and barnacles.
- Marine biologists studied the epifauna attached to the shipwreck.
- Oysters and mussels are common examples of sessile epifauna.
- The epifauna on the coral reef provides food for many fish species.
- Researchers collected samples of epifauna from the ocean floor.
- Climate change affects the distribution of epifauna in polar regions.