meiofauna

English

Etymology

From meio- +‎ fauna. Meio- is from Ancient Greek μεῖον (meîon, “less”).

Noun

meiofauna (plural meiofaunas or meiofaunae)

1. (ecology) A group of marine or freshwater, typically benthic organisms that are intermediate in terms of size between macrofauna and microfauna, and which can pass through a 1 mm sieve, but are retained by a 45 μm sieve.

   Synonym: meiobenthos

Derived terms

• meiofaunal