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Noun: epifauna  'e-pi,fo-nu
  1. (ecology) fauna characterized by members whose typical life sites are on the outer surface of their environment (as opposed to within it), e.g. animals living on the surface of the sea floor
    "Barnacles and mussels are common examples of epifauna on rocky shores"

Derived forms: epifaunas

Encyclopedia: Epifauna