Wombats are stout, sturdy marsupials. They grow to about 1.3 metres in length, and can weigh up to 36 kg. They have a large, blunt head with small eyes and ears, and a short, muscular neck. Their sharp claws and stubby, powerful legs make them great diggers and they have a thick soft fur.. Because wombat babies live in their mother's pouch drinking her milk, wombats are marsupials and all marsupials are mammals. They are very shy so you don’t see theme so often. Wombats have been known to live for up to 27 years in captivity
Two of the three species of wombat.
The common wombat, most widespread of the two, has a large, naked snout covered in grainy skin.
The much rarer southern hairy-nosed wombat has larger ears than the common wombat, and its snout is coated with fine hairs.
Where do they live?
The common wombat lives mainly in wet, partly forested areas on the coast, and on the ranges and western slopes.
The southern hairy-nosed wombat prefers dry, open country. Southern hairy-nosed wombats are very rare, and until recently were thought to be extinguished. They are currently listed as endangered.
What do they eat?
They nocturnal animals so a Wombats spend between three and eight hours each night searching for food, They are herbivores– they like grasses, tree roots and soft mosses. They cut their food with sharp, chisel-like front teeth which grow continuously, so if they break a tooth it just re-grows. A wombat may wander up to 3 km a night looking for food. To keep themselves clean they have a dust bath. They lie on their side and scoop sand over themselves.
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