douroucouli
- noun
- /ˌdʊərəˈkuːli/
- US
- With its large eyes, the douroucouli hunts for insects and fruits in the dark.
Examples
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The thick fur of the douroucouli helps it stay warm in the cooler nights of its rainforest habitat.
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The douroucouli is often seen quietly moving through the trees at night.
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Additionally, we thank the Organization for Tropical Studies, the National Geographic Society, and the Douroucouli Foundation for providing monetary support throughout most years of this project.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
1
5.9
A monkey from Central and South America with a flat nose and often a tail that can hold things
1
9.9
A small monkey active at night with large eyes that lives in Central and South America
A small monkey with large eyes and thick fur that is active at night in Central and South American forests
Surface Forms
Etymology
Douroucouli comes from a native South American name for this animal that was picked up by European languages. A helpful way to remember it is to think of an 'owl' and 'night' because the name points to the monkey's very large eyes and its habit of being active at night, so a douroucouli is a small, nocturnal monkey with big eyes.