What does dasyure mean?
A dasyure is any member of Dasyuridae, a family of carnivorous marsupials found almost exclusively in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. The group ranges from tiny insect-eaters like the antechinus to larger predators such as quolls and the Tasmanian devil. Most dasyures are nocturnal hunters that feed on insects, spiders, small mammals, birds, or carrion, and they typically have pointed snouts, sharp teeth, and — as the name suggests — often a thick or hairy tail. The term is chiefly zoological: scientists, conservationists, and nature writers use 'dasyure' when speaking about the family as a whole or comparing species within it, while everyday discussion tends to favour specific names like 'quoll' or 'Tasmanian devil.' Because many dasyure species are threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators such as foxes and cats, the word frequently appears in conservation contexts. Its Greek-derived etymology, meaning roughly 'hairy-tailed,' reflects the descriptive tradition of early naturalists who named animals from their outward appearance.
nounA carnivorous, mostly nocturnal marsupial of the family Dasyuridae, native to Australia and New Guinea; examples include the quolls and the Tasmanian devil.
- Any small-to-medium carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae, such as a quoll or antechinus.
"The dasyure emerged at dusk to hunt insects and small vertebrates in the eucalypt forest."
"Naturalists catalogued several new species of dasyure during the expedition into New Guinea's highlands."
"Unlike most marsupials, the dasyure relies heavily on animal prey rather than vegetation."
Regular English plural formed with -s; used when referring to multiple individuals or species within the family.
"Several dasyures were recorded on the camera traps over a single night."
Despite its mouse-like size, a dasyure can be one of the fiercest little predators in the Australian bush — its name literally means 'hairy tail.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dasyure
The word 'dasyure' comes from modern Latin Dasyurus, the genus name coined by French naturalist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Frédéric Cuvier around 1796, which itself derives from ancient Greek: 'dasys,' meaning hairy or rough, and 'oura,' meaning tail. It entered English in the late eighteenth century following European scientific descriptions of Australian fauna. The same Greek root 'dasys' appears in other biological terms such as 'Dasypodidae,' the armadillo family, whose name likewise means something like 'hairy-footed.'
Related word forms
How dasyure is actually used
A technical zoological term, used mainly in scientific, conservation, or natural-history writing rather than everyday conversation. It covers a range of animals that also have their own common names, so it appears most often when referring to the group collectively.
Easily confused with dasyure
A dasyure is a carnivorous marsupial mammal, whereas a dasyatid is a stingray of the family Dasyatidae.