epigean

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐπίγειος (epígeios, “earthly”), from ἐπί (epí, “on top of”) + γαῖα (gaîa, “earth”).

Adjective

epigean (not comparable)

1. That lives on or near the surface of the land.
   • 2015 July 8, “Convergent Reduction of Ovariole Number Associated with Subterranean Life in Beetles”, in PLOS ONE‎^[1], →DOI:

     For other Leptodirini, the contraction of the life cycle is less radical, being intermediate between this extreme and a epigean life cycle.

Coordinate terms

• hypogean

Related terms

• epigeal, epigeic, epigeous

Noun

epigean (plural epigeans)

1. Any organism that lives on or near the surface of the land.
   • 2015 July 8, “Convergent Reduction of Ovariole Number Associated with Subterranean Life in Beetles”, in PLOS ONE‎^[2], →DOI:

     We also studied the female internal system for a species in the subgenus Aphaenops (Cerbaphaenops), and two species belonging to two other genera, one endogean (Geotrechus) and one epigean (Trechus).