Cute little furry creature found in the bushes of Australia, Wombat is a burrowing, herbivorous, marsupial mammal. Except for the lack of a tail, the wombat is remarkably beaver like in appearance. They are greyish brown, thick-bodied animals ranging from 70 to 120 cm and weighing up to 27 kg. A wombat is covered with coarse grey or brown fur, with a large head, a large nose and small ears. It is solidly built, with large claws for digging. Its body has a rounded appearance. Its back is hard and bony. This bony back is a useful defense against intruders in the burrow, as the wombat uses its back to crush them against the burrow wall. The wombat is nocturnal, which means it is active at night, eating grasses, roots and shrubs. It stays in a burrow in daytime and lives alone, except for a female with young.
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| There are three existing species of wombat, common, hairy-nosed and Tasmanian found only in Australia.
They are believed to have evolved from the same basic possum-like marsupial stock that gave rise to the koala, but they have become specialized for a ground dwelling, burrowing existence.
Wombats are wholly herbivorous and feed entirely on grasses, roots and the inner bark of trees, and some fungi, such as puffballs. A female wombat gives birth to one very tiny young, which moves to her pouch after being born. | It stays in the pouch for about 6 months, which has its opening facing the back legs. After the baby leaves the pouch, it will follow the mother for another 11 months. Common wombats are found through forest and woodland areas along the eastern and southern coast of Australia, and in Tasmania. The average life expectancy of wild wombats is at least five years, and some captive individuals have lived for 20 years. |
