Bare-nosed Wombat

Vombatus ursinus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the largest burrowing herbivorous mammal in the world, able to dig burrow systems up to 20 metres long and more than 2 metres deep.

Weight

20 kg – 35 kg

Size

90 cm – 1.2 m

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestGrasslandHerbivore Nocturnal Solitary Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

Its pouch opens backwards, an unusual adaptation that keeps soil out while it digs.
It eats grasses, roots and herbs, mostly at night.
It lives in forest, alpine grassland, coast and woodland of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.
anatomíaIt produces cube-shaped droppings, which it can stack on sloping ground to mark territory without them rolling away.
locomociónIt can run at over 40 km/h in short bursts despite its stocky build and generally slow, unhurried manner.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (marsupial mammal)
Habitat & environment: Forest, alpine grassland, coast and woodland of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania
Birth weight: ~0.5 grams
Size at birth: The size of a jelly bean at birth
Sexual maturity: ~2 years
Gestation / incubation: 20-30 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 young, with an interval between births of approximately 2 years
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 30-34 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Zoogalaxy; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Natural History on the Net; Animal Diversity Web; Animalia.bio; Chloe Likes Wombats; Altina Wildlife Park; Wikipedia (Common wombat); MSU Brain Museum