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genus Potorous

genus Potorous

9.9
Small Australian animals that carry their babies in a pouch like potoroos
  • noun
  • Specialized
: género Potorous
  • The genus Potorous includes several species of small marsupials found in Australia.

Examples

  • One member of the genus Potorous, the long-footed potoroo, is listed as endangered.

  • Scientists have studied the habitat preferences of animals within the genus Potorous.

  • The genus Potorous includes several species of small marsupials.

  • Did you know that the genus Potorous is native to Australia?

  • One member of the genus Potorous, the long-footed potoroo, is listed as endangered.

  • The genus Potorous includes several species of small marsupials found in Australia.

  • Scientists have studied the habitat preferences of animals within the genus Potorous.

Synonyms

potoroo
vsgenus Potorous
  • Australian
1 9.9

A small Australian animal like a tiny kangaroo that carries its young in a pouch

refers to the whole group rather than a single animal
Potorous
vsgenus Potorous
  • Specialized
9.9

A small Australian animal like a kangaroo that carries babies in a pouch

is identical in meaning but uses a more formal, explicit group label

Surface Forms

Morphology

genus + Potorous

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with 'Potorous' (the taxon name) yields the literal meaning 'the genus called Potorous'. This follows a regular taxonomic naming pattern common across languages, so a learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Potorous is a name: genus means 'group' and Potorous comes from the animal name potoroo, a 'small hopping marsupial' like a tiny kangaroo from Australia. So genus Potorous simply names the group of potoroos.