rat-kangaroo

[ rat-kang-guh-roo ]

noun

, plural rat-kan·ga·roos.

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

rat kangaroo

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rat-kangaroo¹

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