ScienceAugust 31, 2026

bandicoots

BAN-dih-koots

Definition

Small to medium-sized Australian marsupials known for their long, pointed snouts and omnivorous diet.

Etymology

Derived from the Telugu word 'pandikokku', meaning 'pig-rat', which was later anglicized to 'bandicoot' when it was applied by colonial settlers to these Australian marsupials.

In the news

The article uses the word to provide an example of the smaller, more agile prey the thylacine likely hunted, rather than large sheep.

The Tasmanian Tiger's Unique Skull Suggests Sheep Were Not Its Main Prey

Read the full article ↗

Discover Magazine

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