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Glite Dictionary
Trichosurus vulpecula

Trichosurus vulpecula

9.6
A type of possum with a bushy tail that lives in forests and cities in Australia
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Trichosurus vulpecula
  • The Trichosurus vulpecula, commonly known as the brushtail possum, has a bushy tail that helps it balance in trees.

Examples

  • The Trichosurus vulpecula is one of the most widespread marsupials in Australia.

  • Many people in Australia have seen a Trichosurus vulpecula in their backyard.

  • Conservationists are monitoring Trichosurus vulpecula numbers to assess their impact on native forests.

  • Scientists studied the urban adaptation of Trichosurus vulpecula populations in New Zealand.

  • The Trichosurus vulpecula is a nocturnal marsupial.

  • In the evenings, the Trichosurus vulpecula comes out to feed on leaves and fruits in the Australian bush.

  • Many Australians are familiar with the Trichosurus vulpecula as it often visits gardens in search of food.

Synonyms

brush-tailed phalanger
vsTrichosurus vulpecula
  • Australian
9.9

A small animal from Australia and New Guinea that lives in trees and has a pouch and a bushy tail

is limited to the species native to Australia rather than New Guinea

Surface Forms

Trichosurus vulpecula singular
Trichosurus vulpecula plural

Morphology

Trichosurus + vulpecula

This is a scientific Latin binomial: the genus 'Trichosurus' explicitly points to brushtail possums, so a learner who recognises that could infer it names a type of possum. However the species epithet 'vulpecula' is a Latin term (and not standard English vocabulary) and does not follow ordinary English compositional patterns, so the full meaning is not fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure or taxonomic knowledge.

Etymology

Trichosurus vulpecula is a scientific name that comes from old Latin and Greek words: Trichosurus means 'hairy tail' and vulpecula means 'little fox', a picture of its bushy tail and fox-like face. So the name points to the common brushtail possum and helps you remember this animal.