Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

megafauna

Noun

/ˌmɛɡəˈfɔːnə/

Definition

Megafauna refers to large or giant animals, particularly those that lived during the Pleistocene epoch and are now extinct.

Examples

The extinction of megafauna has had significant effects on Earth’s ecosystems.
Researchers study megafauna to better understand ancient climates and environments.

Meaning

The term often encompasses large mammals and some other species that were characterized by their size, such as woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.