phalanger

pha·lan·ger

P0232700 (fə-lăn′jər)n. Any of various small arboreal marsupials of the family Phalangeridae of New Guinea, Australia, and adjacent islands, having a long tail and dense woolly fur.

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

phalanger

(fəˈlændʒə) n (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[C18: via New Latin from Greek phalaggion spider's web, referring to its webbed hind toes]

pha•lan•ger

(fəˈlæn dʒər)

n. any tree-dwelling Australian marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, including mouselike, squirrellike, and lemurlike forms. [1765–75; < French (Buffon) or < New Latin (1780) < Greek phalang-, s. of phálanx phalanx + New Latin -er]

Thesaurus

Noun

phalanger - small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tailsopossum, possummarsupial, pouched mammal - mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carriedfamily Phalangeridae, Phalangeridae - phalangers; koalascuscus - woolly-haired monkey-like arboreal marsupial of New Guinea and northern Australiabrush-tailed phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula - bushy-tailed phalangerflying opossum, flying phalanger, flying squirrel - nocturnal phalangers that move with gliding leaps using parachute-like folds of skin along the sides of the bodykangaroo 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

phalanger

(fəlăn`jər), any of the numerous and varied marsupialsmarsupial
, member of the order Marsupialia, or pouched mammals. With the exception of the New World opossums and an obscure S American family (Caenolestidae), marsupials are now found only in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and a few adjacent islands.
..... Click the link for more information. , or pouched mammals, of the family Phalangeridae, found in Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands. Many are somewhat like squirrels in appearance. They are also called Australian opossums, although true opossums belong to a different marsupial family and are found in the Americas. The koalakoala
, arboreal marsupial, or pouched mammal, Phascolarctos cinereus, native to Australia. Although it is sometimes called koala bear, or Australian bear, and is somewhat bearlike in appearance, it is not related to true bears.
..... Click the link for more information. is a well-known but atypical phalanger. Typical phalangers are nocturnal, arboreal animals with woolly fur, long, often prehensile tails, dexterous forepaws, large claws, opposable first hind toes, and joined second and third hind toes. They feed on fruits, leaves, and insects. Commonest is the brush-tailed phalanger, or possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), with a thickly furred tail, heavy hindquarters, a pointed face, and large pointed ears. It is found throughout Australia and adjacent areas, especially in woods, but also in towns; it has adapted well to human settlement and clearing. Cuscus is a name applied to several species of slow-moving phalangers about the size of house cats. Cuscuses have rounded bodies and heads, inconspicuous ears, and large round eyes. They display a wide range of colors. The honey phalanger is a mouse-sized, shrub-dwelling animal of SW Australia, with a very long tongue used to gather nectar, pollen, and insects from flowers. Several types of phalanger have evolved a gliding mechanism consisting of a parachutelike fold of furry skin between the front and hind legs. These animals are called gliders, or flying squirrels, although they are not related to the true flying squirrels. Phalangers are classified in several genera of the phylum ChordataChordata
, phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Marsupialia, family Phalangeridae.

phalanger

any of various Australasian arboreal marsupials, such as Trichosurus vulpecula (brush-tailed phalanger), having dense fur and a long tail: family Phalangeridae

phalanger

noun

Synonyms for phalanger

noun small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails

Synonyms

opossum
possum

Related Words

marsupial
pouched mammal
family Phalangeridae
Phalangeridae
cuscus
brush-tailed phalanger
Trichosurus vulpecula
flying opossum
flying phalanger
flying squirrel
kangaroo bear
koala
koala bear
native bear
Phascolarctos cinereus