Megafauna

Definition

Large animals that are characteristic of a particular geographic area or ecological niche.

Etymology

From Greek 'mega-', meaning 'large', and 'fauna', meaning 'animals'.

Example

The megafauna of the Pleistocene epoch included species like mammoths, mastodons, and giant sloths.

Related Terms

• Megaflora
• Extinct animals
• Pleistocene