What is "pademelon"

pademelon \pad`e*mel"on\ n. (Zo["o]l.) Any of several small reddish-brown wallabies of scrubby areas of Australia and New Guinea, especially those belonging to the genus Thylogale; a paddymelon. See Wallaby

alt. Any species of the genus ''Thylogale'' of small macropods. n. Any species of the genus ''Thylogale'' of small macropods.

n. small reddish-brown wallabies of scrubby areas of Australia and New Guinea [syn: paddymelon]

Pademelons are small marsupials of the genus Thylogale. They are usually found in forests. Pademelons are one of the smallest of the macropods. The name is a corruption of badimaliyan, from the Dharuk Aboriginal language of Port Jackson ( Sydney region).

Pademelons, wallabies, and kangaroos are very alike in body structure, and the names just refer to the three different size groups. Originally wallabies were divided into small and large wallabies, but a more suitable name was needed to differentiate between them.

Besides their smaller size, pademelons can be distinguished from wallabies by their shorter, thicker, and sparsely haired tails.