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Glite Dictionary
Phalangeridae

Phalangeridae

9.9
A group of mammals that live in trees and carry their young in a pouch, like cuscuses, from Australasia
  • noun
  • /ˌfælənˈdʒɛrɪdi/
  • Australian
: Phalangeridae
  • The family Phalangeridae includes a wide variety of arboreal marsupials found in Australasia.

Examples

  • Some members of the Phalangeridae family are commonly known as cuscuses.

  • Researchers study Phalangeridae to understand the evolution of marsupial mammals.

  • The Phalangeridae family includes several unique marsupials.

  • Did you know that Phalangeridae are native to Australia?

  • The family Phalangeridae consists of various marsupials that thrive in the forests of Australia.

  • In Phalangeridae, there are species such as the sugar glider that have adapted to tree-dwelling life.

  • Many animals in the Phalangeridae family are nocturnal and are well-known for their unique fur patterns.

Surface Forms

Phalangeridae singular
Phalangeridaes plural

Morphology

Phalangeridae = phalanger (opaque) = phalanger + idae

The scientific family suffix '-idae' is specialized and not productive for general learners, so the meaning 'family of phalangers' is not readily derivable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Phalangeridae comes from the older scientific name Phalanger (used for certain possums and cuscuses) plus the ending -idae, which means 'family' in animal names. So Phalangeridae is the 'family' of tree-living marsupials found in Australasia.