bettong

[prettygoodword]

bettong (buh-TAWNG, buh-TONG) - n., any of four species of short-nosed rat-kangaroos (genus Bettongia).



Thanks, WikiMedia!

All four are endangered, and three other species have gone extinct since colonization. They all have short rounded ears, long hind feet, and a naked muzzle tip, and as you can tell are way cuter than a "rat-kangaroo" has any right to be. Srsly, they belong in r/illegallysmolanimals. Heck, one of them (Bettongia lesueur) is called a boodie, which is probably an illegally cute name -- check local statutes. The bettongs' name comes from Dharug (an Australian Aboriginal language from around Sydney) badang.

---L.

Comments

[full_metal_ox]

…way cuter than a "rat-kangaroo" has any right to be.

Why, considering that kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) are firmly in the Aww column?

[prettygoodword]

That's different. 'roo rats are rats that look like 'roos, and so get judged by 'roo standards and on that measure are way cute, while rat-'roos are 'roos that look like rats, and on rat standards usually look weird -- but these are actively cute.