feathertail possum; feather-tailed possum
Refers to the marsupial species Distoechurus pennatus, native to New Guinea. The Japanese name literally means 'false pouch flying squirrel', though it is not a true flying squirrel.
The feathertail possum is a small marsupial that lives in New Guinea.
フクロモモンガ (sugar glider) is a different, more familiar species often kept as a pet. ニセフクロモモンガ is a distinct, less-known animal.
Standard katakana spelling for this animal name.
Kanji spelling is rare and complex; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 偽 (nise, 'false') + 袋鼯鼠 (fukuro momonga, 'sugar glider'), literally 'false sugar glider'. The name distinguishes it from the true sugar glider.