epigeanEtymologyFrom Ancient Greek ἐπίγειος (epígeios, “earthly”), from ἐπί (epí, “on top of”) + γαῖα (gaîa, “earth”).epigean means that lives on or near the surface of the land. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.adjThat lives on or near the surface of the land.“For other Leptodirini, the contraction of the life cycle is less radical, being intermediate between this extreme and a epigean life cycle.”nounAny organism that lives on or near the surface of the land.“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).”