Biota
/baɪˈoʊtə/noun
The plant and animal life of a particular region or period.
Did you know?Biota comes from Greek bios, meaning “life,” the same ancient root behind words like biology and biography, so the term literally points to the totality of living beings.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
bíos
“life; manner of life”
19th Century
New Latin
biota
“the total living things of a region”
19th Century
English
biota
“the animal and plant life of a region or time”
Modern English
English
biota
“the living organisms of an area or ecosystem”
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