noun
- Plural of epifauna; aquatic animals that live on the surface of the seafloor or other substrates rather than burrowing into them.
Usage: technical; biology; marine ecology
Examples
- The epifaunas of the coral reef include starfish, sea urchins, and crustaceans.
- Researchers studied the epifaunas living on the rocky substrate.
- Different epifaunas colonize the seafloor depending on depth and water conditions.
- The epifaunas were more abundant in areas with strong water currents.
- Marine biologists cataloged the epifaunas found in the tidal zone.