Vombatus ursinus
coarse-haired wombat

The common wombat inhabits the hilly or mountainous coastal country of southeastern South Australia and as well, Tasmania and Flinders Island in Bass Strait. It used to occupy the other islands of Bass Strait, however, through hunting of humans, it has become extinct. Some zoologists have restricted the range of V. ursinus to Tasmania and Flinders Island and regard the mainland form as a second species, V. hirsutus.

Macdonald (1984), Norwak (1983)

Requirements for living include a temperate, humid microclimate, suitable burrowing conditions, and native grasses for food. Slopes above creeks and gullies are favored sites for burrows. They mainly inhabit the wetter, subhumid, eucalypt forests, the hilly, or mountainous coastal country. Macdonald (1984), Nowak (1983)

The common wombat's average body size, from the head to the end of its body, ranges from 700 to 1,200mm. The wombat's tail is a mere stub. The general coloration of the animal varies from yellowish buff, silver gray, light gray, gray, dark brown, or black. Males and females have thick, heavy bodies, small eyes, flattened heads, round ears, and coarse, harsh fur. The common wombat is also equipped with short, powerful legs and long, strong foreclaws for digging their large, often complex burrows. Females have a pouch that opens posteriorly. Nowak (1983), Angus and Robertson (1983)

The gestation period of female wombats has been estimated at 20 days. Young appear to be born at any time of the year, but births probably peak in late autumn (April to June in Australia). Females have pouches, like those of kangeroos, in which the young complete their development. As mentioned above, the female's pouch opens posteriorly. The pouch contains two teats; however, the normal liter size is one, although twins are known. Young first leave the pouch at six to seven months, but may return occassionally for three more months. Weaning may not occur until they are 15 months old and sexual maturity is attained after two years. The average lifespan is five years, although this species is capable of a long life span in captivity. The record longevity is 26 years and 1 month.

The major causes of death in wild populations include starvation during droughts, outbreaks of mange, predation by dingoes, and collisions with road vehicles.

Nowak (1983), Angus and Robertson (1983), Macdonald (1984)

The common wombat is mainly a solitary animal, except during the breeding season. Individual wombats live in a series of burrows called warrens. There are generally three types of burrows: minor, medium and major. The minor burrows, usually up to 2m long, are made by the common wombat in an effort to quickly escape unfavorable conditions. The medium burrows (2 to 5m long) are mainly used for refuge, but eventually they develop into major burrows, which contain more than one sleeping chamber and several entrances. Generally, only one wombat is found per burrow, and observations of wombats kept in captivity indicate that keeping more than one individual in an enclosure often results in fighting and injury. While the common wombat is generally an unsocial animal, in captivity compatible individuals have sometimes successfully been kept together. An obersvation of a wild poulation in Victoria in the 1970's recorded that while only one wombat was found per burrow, individuals were sociable and would visit each other's burrows.

The common wombat is usually nocturnal, especially during warmer seasons, and emerges above ground at night when the air is cool. Some have been seen emerging during the daylight to bask or feed during the winter or other cooler periods.

Their home range varies according to feeding areas, and individuals maintain separate feeding areas through scent-marking, vocalization, and aggressive behavior. The common wombat is extremely sensitive to touch, especially near the hindquarters; touching them causes them to kick backward with both hind feet. When annoyed, they make a hissing growl.

Nowak (1983), Angus and Robertson (1983), Macdonald (1984)

The common wombat is herbivorous. It feeds mainly on native grass, roots of shrubs and trees, sedges, matrushes, and fungi, using its forefeet to tear and grasp pieces of vegetation. Some individuals forage among refuse along the seashore. Its teeth are very much like those of rodents. Interestingly enough, the common wombat's teeth have adapted to breaking up its tough, highly fibrous food. Because of this, both upper and lower jaws have a single pair of incissors. These incissors are chisel-like and grow continuously, being kept to a reasonable size by constant wear.

Nowak (1983), Angus and Robertson (1983)

In 1965 the common wombat was wildly hunted because its fur had commercial importance. Recently it has been hunted for sport. Angus and Robertson (1983)

The common wombat is classed as vermin in eastern Victoria, mainly because of its damage to rabbit proof fences. Many times the common wombat's burrows pass under rabbit proof fences, which allows rabbits to get around those fences. This is a major nuisance to people who wish to either keep rabbits in the fence or keep them out of the enclosed area. Also, the openings of the wombat's burrows are hazardous to large livestock.

Angus and Robertson (1983), Macdonald (1984)

The decline of the common wombat has resulted from humans exterminating them, hunting for sport, and competition for food with rabbits. Each species of wombat is protected to some degree in the different states in Australia, except in Victoria, where they are still threatened by hunting. Nowak (1983)

Evidence from the fossil record shows that there was once a wombat species as large as a hippopotamus. Angus and Robertson (1983)