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Glite Dictionary
rock kangaroo

rock kangaroo

7.7
A small animal like a kangaroo with long legs that lives among rocks in Australia
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : canguro de roca
  • The rock kangaroo is well-adapted to leaping between steep rocks and cliffs.

Examples

  • We spotted a rock kangaroo cleverly blending into the boulders near the gorge.

  • Have you ever seen a rock kangaroo in the wild?

  • Researchers are studying threats to the endangered habitats of rock kangaroos in Western Australia.

  • The rock kangaroo is an incredible climber.

  • We spotted a rock kangaroo cleverly blending into the boulders near the gorge.

  • The rock kangaroo is well-adapted to leaping between steep rocks and cliffs.

  • Researchers are studying threats to the endangered habitats of rock kangaroos in Western Australia.

Synonyms

wallaby
vsrock kangaroo
  • Australian
7 5.9

A small or medium animal like a kangaroo that lives in Australia and carries babies in a pouch

is a narrower rock-dwelling type rather than the broader group
rock wallaby
vsrock kangaroo
  • Australian
7.9

A small animal like a kangaroo with long legs that lives among rocks

is the same animal but named slightly differently in common use
Petrogale
vsrock kangaroo
  • Specialized
9.9

A small Australian marsupial like a wallaby that lives on rocky cliffs

refers to the specific common species rather than the whole genus

Surface Forms

rock kangaroo singular
rock kangaroos plural

Morphology

rock + kangaroo

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'rock' (rocky habitat) with 'kangaroo' (the animal): it names a type of kangaroo associated with rocks, caves, or rocky terrain. This noun‑noun compounding pattern (habitat/type + animal) is compositional and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun rock kangaroo comes from the simple picture of a kangaroo living among rocks, hopping between boulders and hiding in caves. So, the name means 'a kangaroo adapted to rocky places'.