COSMOS MAGAZINE
There are 3 wombat species in Australia:
Bare-nosed, or common, wombat
In decline
Southern hairy-nosed wombat
Near threatened
Northern hairy-nosed wombat
Critically endangered
The northern hairy-nosed wombat is the largest and rarest, with the softest fur, of the three wombat species.
Southern hairy-nosed wombats are similar in appearance to their northern cousins, but smaller in size, with shorter ears and a smaller hairy nose.
Bare-nosed wombats, also known as the common wombat, have noses covered in grainy skin, much like koalas.
Where wombats used to roam vs now
Infographic: www.wombatprotection.org.au
Burrowing bulldozers of the Aussie outback
Image: Shannon Kleemann
Wombats are powerful diggers that can stay underground for more than a week to survive drought and temperature extremes that would peel paint.
Wombats' dirt-deflecting pouches
Like all marsupials, female wombats have a pouch, but it faces backwards to avoid kicking dirt on their joeys while digging burrows.
Image: Alan Horsup
Stumpy but speedy
Wombats excel at eating and sleeping, and despite their stumpy legs and pigeon-toed feet they are fast when they want to be, running at speeds up to 40km/h.
Wombats are usually peaceful, but when trouble strikes, they can crush fox or dingo skulls against the burrow roof with their bony, armour-like bum, or deliver a painful bite with their powerful jaws.
Bony bum armour
Peculiar poo
Wombats are the only mammals known to produce unique cube-shaped poop. At the end of the intestine, wombat faeces changes from a liquid to solid, small cubes to help conserve moisture.
Image:: P. Yang and D. Hu/ Georgia Tech
Warrens built to last for generations
Wombats burrows can be more than 100 years old, and are passed down through generations. Warrens can stretch over 90 metres and have up to 6 entrances.
Image: Alan Horsup
Strange burrow buddies
Cameras have captured over 50 species seeking shelter in wombat burrows from rock-wallabies, quolls and possums, to lizards, snakes and even fairy penguins.
Ever-growing teeth
Wombats have developed continually growing teeth to cope with their abrasive tucker, which mainly consists of grass.