Vombatus ursinus

Other Names: Coarse-haired wombat, bare-nosed wombat

Family: Vombatidae (wombats), 3 living species.

Size: Head-to-body 85-120 cm. Tail 2-3 cm.

Distribution: Patches of Southeast Australia (NSW and Vic.), a tiny part of Southeast SA, all of Tasmania.

Status: Least concern. Protected in Western Vic.

Habitat: Wet and dry open forests, woodlands, scrubs and wet heaths to an altitude of 1800 metres above sea level.

References: Cronin's Key Guide to Mammals, Van Dyck, Gynther and Baker, Menkhorst and Knight, Wikipedia.

About the Common Wombat

Common wombats look cute, cuddly and friendly but they are solitary and agressive. Mainly nocturnal. They live in burrows which can be up to 30 metres long and have several entrances. They can run at speeds up to 40 km/h over short distances (faster than a person can run).

Traces: Scats are cube-shaped pellets about 2 cm across, dark-brown outside, fine green plant fragments inside, usually in piles of 4-8 in conspicuous places.

Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. High Resolution 2967 x 1983.

Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. High Resolution 2889 x 1926.

Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. High Resolution 2955 x 1970.

Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. High Resolution 2634 x 1785.

Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. High Resolution 2961 x 1974.

See Also

Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces

Return to Australian Mammals