biota
noun
bi·o·ta
| \ bī-ˈō-tə
\
\
Definition of biota
: the flora and fauna of a region — see also microbiota
Examples of biota in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Last year, a Chinese team published a fossil carapace with a similar shape from the 518-million-year-old Chengjiang biota. — Joshua Sokol, Science | AAAS, "‘Millennium Falcon’ predator soared across ocean floor at dawn of animal life," 30 July 2019 Among the ancient biota—or plant and animal life—found so far: four turtle species, eight amphibian species, 15 fishes, 17 mammals, 24 of the winged reptiles called pterosaurs and no fewer than 53 ancient bird species. — Stefen Chow, Smithsonian, "The Great Chinese Dinosaur Boom," 19 Apr. 2018 Jennifer Kahn and her sources say that the biota has changed drastically before; but never before, since humans appeared 200,000 years ago, have so many species disappeared. — The New York Times Magazine, New York Times, "The 3.18.18 Issue," 28 Mar. 2018 Last year, a Chinese team published a fossil carapace with a similar shape from the 518-million-year-old Chengjiang biota. — Joshua Sokol, Science | AAAS, "‘Millennium Falcon’ predator soared across ocean floor at dawn of animal life," 30 July 2019 The fossil of this four-winged dinosaur was itself unearthed from the 130-million-year-old Jehol biota, a treasure trove of Cretaceous-period fossils in what’s now northeastern China. — Michael Greshko, National Geographic, "Rare fossil in a fossil reveals a dinosaur's surprising last meal," 11 July 2019 Among the ancient biota—or plant and animal life—found so far: four turtle species, eight amphibian species, 15 fishes, 17 mammals, 24 of the winged reptiles called pterosaurs and no fewer than 53 ancient bird species. — Stefen Chow, Smithsonian, "The Great Chinese Dinosaur Boom," 19 Apr. 2018 Jennifer Kahn and her sources say that the biota has changed drastically before; but never before, since humans appeared 200,000 years ago, have so many species disappeared. — The New York Times Magazine, New York Times, "The 3.18.18 Issue," 28 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biota.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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