What is the difference between flora and fauna?
The words flora and fauna are used by the scientists to describe the plant and animal life in a region or area.
What is flora?
The word ‘flora’ comes from the Latin word ‘Flora’ who was believed to be the princess of flowers. Flora is a collective noun used to describe all the plants, trees, fungi and bacteria that may be present in a particular region.
What is fauna?
Fauna comes from two Greek words ‘Faunus’, the name of a Roman god and ‘Fauna’, the name of a mythical Roman goddess. It is a collective noun that is used to describe all the animal life in a particular region.
Importance of flora and fauna
The flora and fauna present in the different corners of the Earth have made life possible on this planet. Both plants, as well as animals, help in maintaining the delicate ecological balance on Earth. The flora produces the oxygen which is taken in by the fauna. In turn, the fauna releases the carbon dioxide that the flora needs to live. So, one cannot live without the other, and we, humans, cannot live without either. The existence of one species depends upon the existence of the other. For example – Pandas eat only bamboo shoots. The destruction of the bamboo forests in China has driven Pandas on the brink of extinction due to food shortage and habitat loss.
Why does India have a rich heritage of flora and fauna?
India is a country with different types of soils, climatic conditions and geographical features which is why it supports a broad spectrum of species of flora and fauna.
What is so special about the flora and fauna of Australia?
Australia’s ecosystem is a unique one because of its unique location. As a result, many species of animals and plants that are found here are not found anywhere else in the world, such as the platypus, kangaroo, echidna, and koala. The small continent of Australia has more than 516 national parks to protect its unique plants and animals. There are several types of rainforests in Australia such as the tropical rain forests, subtropical rainforests and broadleaf rain forests.
2 Interesting facts about flora and fauna
- Botanists, or plant scientists, mainly study flora, while zoologists study fauna. Ecologists are the scientists who study both flora and fauna together.
- India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world and has about 47,000 plant species and 89,000 species of animals.