genus Potorous
- noun
- Specialized
- The genus Potorous includes several species of small marsupials found in Australia.
Examples
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One member of the genus Potorous, the long-footed potoroo, is listed as endangered.
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Scientists have studied the habitat preferences of animals within the genus Potorous.
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The genus Potorous includes several species of small marsupials.
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Did you know that the genus Potorous is native to Australia?
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One member of the genus Potorous, the long-footed potoroo, is listed as endangered.
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The genus Potorous includes several species of small marsupials found in Australia.
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Scientists have studied the habitat preferences of animals within the genus Potorous.
Synonyms
A small Australian animal like a tiny kangaroo that carries its young in a pouch
A small Australian animal like a kangaroo that carries babies in a pouch
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.