bandicoot rat
- noun
- Indian
:
rata bandicoot
- Unlike smaller rodents, the bandicoot rat can cause significant damage to crops.
Examples
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The fields were damaged by a family of bandicoot rats digging extensive tunnels.
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Farmers in rural India struggle to control the bandicoot rat population.
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The bandicoot rat is known for its burrowing habits.
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Many bandicoot rats live in the forests of Sri Lanka.
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The bandicoot rat is known for its burrowing habits and can be found in various regions of Sri Lanka.
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In India, the bandicoot rat tunnels beneath the surface, creating extensive networks for shelter.
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Many researchers study the bandicoot rat due to its unique adaptations to life in the wild.
Synonyms
692
1.0
A small animal like a large mouse with a long tail that lives near people
A large rat that lives in holes in the ground in southern Asia and Egypt
Surface Forms
Morphology
bandicoot + rat
This is an endocentric noun compound where 'rat' is the head noun and 'bandicoot' specifies the type; a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a kind of rat with bandicoot-like associations. The meaning is compositional and follows common noun+modifier patterns for naming animal types, so it is readily understandable from its parts.
Etymology
The name bandicoot rat may come from a South Indian word bandicoot that local people used for a 'big rat' they found in fields and holes. That's why the English name refers to the large rat that lives in holes in India and Sri Lanka.