A small hopping marsupial native to Australia, similar to a rabbit but with a prehensile tail, that was historically more common but is now mostly endangered.
From Dharug (Aboriginal Australian language) 'betong.' The word entered English through contact with Indigenous peoples of New South Wales and reflects Australia's unique fauna.
Bettongs are living time capsules—fossil records show they were once abundant across Australia, but since European settlement, most species have become critically endangered, making the word 'bettong' a reminder of lost ecosystems and the rapid ecological consequences of human arrival.
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