bettong

[ buh-tawng, -tong ]

noun

1. any of several marsupials of the genus Bettongia, of Australia and nearby regions, comprising the short-nosed rat-kangaroos, characterized by short, rounded ears, long hind feet, and a naked muzzle tip: all four species are endangered.

bettong

/ bɛˈtɒŋ /

noun

1. a species of rat kangaroo of Australia having a short nose

Word History and Origins

Origin of bettong¹

First recorded in 1830–40, bettong is from the Dharuk word ba-daŋ

Word History and Origins

Origin of bettong¹

C19: from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

They dug him out of a bettong tunnel and killed him.

From New York Times

In Australia in recent decades, the bilby, the bettong, or rat kangaroo, the brush-tailed possum and other medium-sized mammals all disappeared from the Western Desert.

From New York Times

“You want a bettong to watch its mate get eaten by a cat and think, ‘Oh, geez, cats are scary,’” West says.

From Scientific American

After those have been erected, locally extinct mammals like the greater bilby, burrowing bettong, Western quoll, and Western barred bandicoot, will be reintroduced.

From National Geographic

Many mammals, including the northern bettong, were at risk from introduced predators, she said.

From The Guardian