Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
genus Phalanger

genus Phalanger

9.9
A group of cuscuses, marsupial animals from Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Phalanger
  • The genus Phalanger includes several species of cuscuses found in Australasia.

Examples

  • Conservation efforts focus on the endangered species within the genus Phalanger.

  • Researchers discovered a new member of the genus Phalanger in remote forests.

  • The genus Phalanger includes several species of cuscuses.

  • Many researchers study the genus Phalanger for its unique adaptations.

  • Conservation efforts focus on the endangered species within the genus Phalanger.

  • Researchers discovered a new member of the genus Phalanger in remote forests.

  • The genus Phalanger includes several species of cuscuses found in Australasia.

Surface Forms

genus Phalanger singular
genera Phalanger plural

Morphology

genus + phalanger

The meaning — the taxonomic genus that contains phalangers — is directly derivable from combining 'genus' (a biological rank grouping related species) with 'phalanger' (a type of marsupial). The pattern 'genus + taxon' is a regular, cross-linguistic scientific naming construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning despite its technical vocabulary.

Etymology

The name genus Phalanger probably comes from an old word for 'finger', like 'phalanges'. These cuscuses have strong, grasping toes and hands to cling to trees, so the name points to their tree-climbing life.