phalanger (redirected from common phalangers)

pha·lan·ger  (f-lnjr)

n.

Any of various small arboreal marsupials of the family Phalangeridae, of Australia and adjacent islands, having a long tail and dense woolly fur and including the cuscus and the flying phalanger.

---

[New Latin, from Greek phalanx, phalang-, toe bone (from its fused hind toes); see phalanx.]

---

phalanger [fəˈlændʒə]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of various Australasian arboreal marsupials, such as Trichosurus vulpecula (brush-tailed phalanger), having dense fur and a long tail: family Phalangeridae Also called (Austral. and NZ) possum See also flying phalanger

[via New Latin from Greek phalaggion spider's web, referring to its webbed hind toes]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

phalanger - small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails opossum, possum marsupial, pouched mammal - mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carried family Phalangeridae, Phalangeridae - phalangers; koalas cuscus - woolly-haired monkey-like arboreal marsupial of New Guinea and northern Australia brush-tailed phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula - bushy-tailed phalanger flying opossum, flying phalanger, flying squirrel - nocturnal phalangers that move with gliding leaps using parachute-like folds of skin along the sides of the body kangaroo bear, koala, koala bear, native bear, Phascolarctos cinereus - sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with grey furry ears and coat; feeds on eucalyptus leaves and bark