Difference Between Flora and Fauna

Learn How to Distinguish Between Flora and Fauna Properly

Nature is made of different kinds of ecosystems. It depends on the features of an environment that determines the variety of plant and animal species residing in it. In a broader sense, the plant species are called flora, and the animal species are called fauna. Both the terms are generally used together to express a diverse ecosystem of a place. To understand what flora and fauna stand for, you need to understand their differences better. 

The subject matter experts and teachers of Vedantu have tabulated the difference between flora and fauna using simple language to make the basic concept clear to the students. These terms are used in different classes. The more you advance to a higher class, the concept turns out to be deeper. Delve deeper into the concepts by understanding the differences first. Figure out what makes the flora and fauna of a place vary according to their definitions and features. This will help develop a foundation of knowledge to answer the questions related to this topic in the future.

What are Flora and Fauna?

As mentioned earlier, flora and fauna are together used to define the different plant and animal species in an ecosystem. The terms are picked from different languages. Let us discuss what these terms mean separately.

The word ‘flora’ means the ‘goddess of flowers’ in Latin. Most of the scientific terms are borrowed from Latin and then transformed. Flora is used as a collective terminology to specify plant life present in a region. The entire plant kingdom can be represented by this term also. The classification of this kingdom is done based on different factors such as topography, weather conditions, etc. It means that the plants growing in a desert will certainly vary from those species growing in a delta region. You might have studied the different types of vegetation in different regions in our country. It all depends on the geographical features of a region. Plants grow and develop new adaptations to cope with the geographical conditions of a region. This is what makes the difference.

Fauna, on the other hand, has been derived from the Roman word ‘Faunus’. It means ‘forest spirits’. It represents the entire animal kingdom or the animal species in a region. Similar to flora, the animal species of a region vary in features and characteristics from the other regions. Animal classification is then done based on the different characteristics developed while evolving in that region. It is more complex than the classification of the plant kingdom. For instance, fishes are considered as Pisci Fauna. Birds fall in the Avifauna. The microorganisms in a region are termed as microfauna. Those species that are yet to be discovered are termed cryptofauna.

Flora and fauna both are important for maintaining the ecological balance. Flora produces food and is considered as the producer whereas fauna comprises the primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers.  This is how we can distinguish between flora and fauna. You can refer to the differences tabulated by the experts to understand the concept well and answer the questions properly.

Why Should You Distinguish Between Flora and Fauna?

Now that you have understood what flora and fauna stand for, you can proceed to the difference table. Studying the differences between flora and fauna will make you distinguish the different kingdoms by evaluating their characteristics. It will help you construct a foundation of knowledge regarding the prominent differences between the plant and animal kingdom. Once these terms are properly studied, you can use them to write the answers and score better in the exams.

Studying the differences tabulated by the experts will save your time a lot. You can prepare this huge chapter without any hassle. In fact, it will also become convenient to resolve your queries on time. It will help you to complete the syllabus and revise before an exam.

As per the experts, studying a difference between two closely-related terms can help you remember the definitions and features. You will understand what features and traits are identified to differentiate between flora and fauna. This knowledge will thus prepare a platform where you can gather advanced knowledge and prepare the chapters well later.

The experts have used simple language to make the students grab the concept easily. Apart from the classroom sessions, you can use this table of differences as a reference. You can quickly go on through the prime concepts of the chapter.