Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Vombatidae Scientific Name : Vombatus Ursinus Size : 1 - 1.2m (39 - 47in) Weight : 20 - 35kg (44 - 77lbs) Top Speed : 40km/h (25mph) Life Span : 20 - 25 years Colour : Brown, Tan, Grey Skin Type : Fur Special Features : Hairy nose and pouch to nurse young
- Related to kangaroos and koalas, wombats are found in the islands of Australia.
- These medium-sized mammals are grey or brown in colour and have a short tail.
- The two common types of Wombats known are bare-nosed Wombats and hairy-nosed Wombats.
- Wombats look cute and harmless but they have a short fuse and are aggressive.
- Wombats are herbivorous animals and eat shoots, leaves, bulbs, fruits, bark etc.
- They keep gnawing on hard vegetation in order to control their ever growing teeth.
- Wombats dig and live in extensive burrows with many interconnecting tunnels and chambers.
- They are nocturnal, foraging for food at nights while resting during the day.
- The 2 main predators are Dingoes and the Tasmanian devil.
- Wombats have hard backsides and dive head first into their tunnels if threatened.
- Wombats look pudgy and have a waddling walk but can run fast when necessary.
- Wombats are marsupials who carry their young in a warm and safe body pouch.
- Wombats reproduce every 2 years and average litter size is usually 1.
- Their pouches are rear facing, thereby protecting it from dirt when the mother digs.
- They are solitary animals who can live for about 20 – 26 years.
- Wombats are often hunted by aboriginal tribes of Australia who eat their meat.
- They are also considered as a pest by farmers and hence trapped or killed.