rat-kangaroo

American  

[rat-kang-guh-roo] / ˈrætˌkæŋ gəˌru /

noun

PLURAL

rat-kangaroos

1. any of several rabbit-sized, ratlike Australian kangaroos of the subfamily Potoroinae.

---

rat kangaroo British  

noun

1. any of several ratlike kangaroos of the genera Bettongia, Potorous, Aepyprymnus, etc, found on the Australian mainland and in Tasmania

---

Etymology

Origin of rat-kangaroo

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Even many animals that survive the fires, such as the long-footed potoroo, a rat-kangaroo that lives in southeastern forests, will face threats, said Brendan Wintle, a specialist in conservation ecology at the University of Melbourne.

From Reuters

In their study, Dr. Bennett and his collaborators tried to approximate the costs of re-establishing and maintaining 16 species that went extinct in the last millennium, including the Lord Howe pigeon and Eastern rat-kangaroo from Australia, and the laughing owl and Waitomo frog from New Zealand.

From New York Times

What's notable about this finding — besides the visual of a 500-lbs kangaroo walking around on two legs — is that, with the exception of the musky rat-kangaroo, every single species of kangaroo alive today hops.

From The Verge

Virtually all kangaroos today hop, although a species called the Musky Rat-kangaroo does not.

From Reuters

The favorite pastime of the employes at this pear station was to use the rat-kangaroo as a target while it sat motionless in the glare of a carbide light.

From Time Magazine Archive