Epigean

Origin

From , from ἐπί ("on top of") + γαῖα ("earth").

Full definition of epigean

Adjective

1. That lives on or near the surface of the land.
• July 8, 2015, , Convergent Reduction of Ovariole Number Associated with Subterranean Life in Beetles, For other Leptodirini, the contraction of the life cycle is less radical, being intermediate between this extreme and a epigean life cycle.

Noun

1. Any organism that lives on or near the surface of the land.
• July 8, 2015, , Convergent Reduction of Ovariole Number Associated with Subterranean Life in Beetles, 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).