en·dem·ic (ĕn-dĕm'ĭk)
adj.

1. Prevalent in or peculiar to a particular locality, region, or people: diseases endemic to the tropics. See synonyms at native.
2. Ecology. Native to or confined to a certain region.

n. Ecology
An endemic plant or animal.

[From Greek endēmos, native, endemic : en-, in; see en-² + dēmos, people.]

endemically en·dem'i·cal·ly adv.
endemism en·dem'ism n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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