rock kangaroo
- noun
- Australian
:
canguro de roca
- The rock kangaroo is well-adapted to leaping between steep rocks and cliffs.
Examples
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We spotted a rock kangaroo cleverly blending into the boulders near the gorge.
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Have you ever seen a rock kangaroo in the wild?
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Researchers are studying threats to the endangered habitats of rock kangaroos in Western Australia.
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The rock kangaroo is an incredible climber.
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We spotted a rock kangaroo cleverly blending into the boulders near the gorge.
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The rock kangaroo is well-adapted to leaping between steep rocks and cliffs.
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Researchers are studying threats to the endangered habitats of rock kangaroos in Western Australia.
Synonyms
7
5.9
A small or medium animal like a kangaroo that lives in Australia and carries babies in a pouch
A small animal like a kangaroo with long legs that lives among rocks
A small Australian marsupial like a wallaby that lives on rocky cliffs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'rock' (rocky habitat) with 'kangaroo' (the animal): it names a type of kangaroo associated with rocks, caves, or rocky terrain. This noun‑noun compounding pattern (habitat/type + animal) is compositional and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The noun rock kangaroo comes from the simple picture of a kangaroo living among rocks, hopping between boulders and hiding in caves. So, the name means 'a kangaroo adapted to rocky places'.