dasyurid

9.9

A small meat-eating marsupial active at night in Australia and Tasmania

noun
/ˈdæsiˌjʊrɪd/

Australian

: dasyurido

Researchers observed the behavior of a nocturnal dasyurid in the dense Tasmanian forest.

Examples

The tiger quoll is one of the largest dasyurids found in Australia.
Many dasyurids play a crucial role in controlling insect populations in their native habitats.
The dasyurid is known for its sharp teeth.
Many dasyurids are active at night.
Researchers observed the behavior of a nocturnal dasyurid in the dense Tasmanian forest.
The tiger quoll is one of the largest dasyurids found in Australia.
Many dasyurids play a crucial role in controlling insect populations in their native habitats.

Synonyms

dasyurid marsupial

vsdasyurid

Australian

9.9

A small meat-eating marsupial from Australia and Tasmania that hunts at night

is the same meaning but in a shorter single-word form

dasyure

vsdasyurid

Australian

9.9

A small meat-eating mammal that carries its young in a pouch, from Australia or New Guinea

is limited to Australia and Tasmania rather than including New Guinea

Compounds

dasyurid marsupial

Australian

9.9

A small meat-eating marsupial from Australia and Tasmania that hunts at night

Surface Forms

dasyurid singular

dasyurids plural

Morphology

dasyurid = dasyuridae (opaque) = dasyur + id

The stem 'dasyur' is a specialized taxonomic element and the suffix '-id' is a scientific marker for membership in a family, so the meaning is not derivable by general learners.

Etymology

The word dasyurid comes from the family name Dasyuridae, which uses Greek parts dasys ('hairy') and oura ('tail'). So a dasyurid is like a 'hairy-tailed' animal, an easy image to remember for these small, mostly night-active, meat-eating marsupials from Australia and Tasmania.