potoroo

American  

[poh-tuh-roo] / ˌpoʊ təˈru /

noun

plural

potoroos

1. any of several small, ratlike kangaroos of the genus Potorous, of Australia.

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potoroo British  

/ ˌpɒtəˈruː /

noun

1. another name for kangaroo rat

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Etymology

Origin of potoroo

1790; perhaps < Dharuk

Example Sentences

And a great many of those species, like the koala, the southern brown bandicoot and the long-footed potoroo, have populations living in the regions now being obliterated by the fires.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2020

Cats are considered to have been a leading threat for 22 of the extinct species, including the broad-faced potoroo, the crescent nailtail wallaby and the big-eared hopping mouse.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2019

Chicago, Ill. I was interested to learn that the potoroo is considered a rarity.

From Time Magazine Archive

A newborn potoroo is about the size of a shelled peanut.

From Time Magazine Archive

As the great continent of Australia became known, it was found that the great mass of its mammalia, from the gigantic kangaroo to the pigmy, mouse-like potoroo, belonged to this singular order.

From Heads and Tales : or, Anecdotes and Stories of Quadrupeds and Other Beasts, Chiefly Connected with Incidents in the Histories of More or Less Distinguished Men. by White, Adam