rat-kangaroo

[rat-kang-guh-roo] /ˈrætˌkæŋ gəˌru/
noun, plural rat-kangaroos.
1.
any of several rabbit-sized, ratlike Australian kangaroos of the subfamily Potoroinae.
Origin
1840-50
British Dictionary definitions for rat kangaroo

rat kangaroo

noun
1.
any of several ratlike kangaroos of the genera Bettongia, Potorous, Aepyprymnus, etc, found on the Australian mainland and in Tasmania
Encyclopedia Article for rat kangaroo

any of the nine species of Australian and Tasmanian marsupials constituting a subfamily Potoroinae, of the kangaroo family, Macropodidae (see kangaroo). Some authorities recognize a separate family, Potoroidae. They differ from other kangaroos in skull and urogenital anatomy and in having large canine teeth. All are rabbit-sized or smaller. Rat kangaroos live in undergrowth. At night they forage for grass, tubers, and underground fungi; some also eat grubs and worms.

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