megafauna
noun
mega·fau·na
ˈme-gə-ˌfȯ-nə 
-ˌfä-
1
: animals (such as bears, bison, or mammoths) of particularly large size
2
: fauna consisting of individuals large enough to be visible to the naked eye
Examples of megafauna in a Sentence
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Visitors to Los Llanos can marvel at fascinating megafauna like the giant anteater, giant river otter and green anaconda, but perhaps the most impressive natural feature of the region is its incredible avian diversity.
—
Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
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The woolly rhinoceros, which roamed northern Eurasia for millions of years, is one of the most iconic extinct megafauna.
—Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2024
Published in the journal Science Advances, the study represents the first direct evidence that the Paleoindian Clovis culture relied heavily on mammoths—in addition to other megafauna—for food.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
And because the fossil record shows the widespread decline of American megafauna starting around the same time — with North America losing 70% of its large mammals, and South America losing more than 80% — many researchers surmised that humans’ arrival led to mass extinctions.
—Christina Larson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
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Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
The woolly rhinoceros, which roamed northern Eurasia for millions of years, is one of the most iconic extinct megafauna.
—Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2024
Published in the journal Science Advances, the study represents the first direct evidence that the Paleoindian Clovis culture relied heavily on mammoths—in addition to other megafauna—for food.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
And because the fossil record shows the widespread decline of American megafauna starting around the same time — with North America losing 70% of its large mammals, and South America losing more than 80% — many researchers surmised that humans’ arrival led to mass extinctions.
—Christina Larson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for megafauna
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“Megafauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/megafauna. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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