Wombats are undeniably one of the most lovable members of Australia’s
marsupials. Wombats are warm-blooded, fur-bearing marsupials that give
birth to very small immature young, which remain in the mother's pouch
for 4 – 10 months. Wombats have been classified in different ways, but
generally, we find two basic types – the Common Wombat with three
subspecies and Hairy-Nosed Wombat with two species.
Although Wombats have sometimes been classified into numerous species
and subspecies, it is now generally accepted that there are only three
distinct species left. They are Vombtus Arsinus, Lasiorhinus Latifrons
and Lasiorhinus Krefftii.
The three subspecies of Common Wombats are The Australian mainland
Common Wombat, The Tasmanian Wombat and The Flinders Island Wombat. On
the other hand the two species of Hairy Nosed Wombats are The Southern
Hairy Nosed Wombats and the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat.
Common
Wombat
The most widespread species is the Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus).
This animal is found in the Queensland / New South Wales border, around
the coastal band through to South Australia. It prefers to stay in
forest covered hills or mountainous areas that provide both good
hillsides to burrow and native grasses to eat. They can weigh up to 40
kilograms and are very strong and determined animals.
Tasmanian Wombat
Tasmania has provided a good habitat for Wombats to flourish. The
Tasmanian Wombat is not as large or bulky. It averages 85 cm in length
and 20 kilograms in weight. These Wombats prefer heat-land, coastal
scrub and open forest, where soils favor their burrowing habits. They
have short legs, large paws and long, strong claws that are used to dig
burrows. The forepaws are used for digging, and after pushing the dirt
to one side the Wombat will back out, moving the loose dirt with both
the front and back paws.
The Flinders Island Wombat
The Flinders Island Wombat is smaller than its mainland cousin and
this sub-species of Common Wombat are now only found in Flinders Island
in Bass Straight, located in the North of Tasmania.
Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat – The largest of the species
The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii), also known as
the Yaminon, is one of the rarest large mammals in the world and is
tagged critically endangered. It was found across New South Wales,
Victoria and Queensland as recently as 100 years ago, but is now
restricted to a 3 square kilometer range within the 32 square kilometer
Epping Forest National Park in Queensland.
It is slightly larger than the Common Wombat and is able to breed
somewhat faster. Its habitat has become infested with African buffel
grass, which out-competes the native grasses the Yaminon prefers to feed
on.
Southern Hairy nosed Wombat – The smallest of the species
The Southern hairy- nosed Wombat is widely found in scattered areas
of semi arid scrub and Mallee from the eastern Nullarbor Plain to the
New South Wales border area. It is the smallest Wombat at around 775 to
935 mm, weighing around 20 to 32 kilograms. Study revealed that it takes
almost three consecutive good seasons for a Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat
to reach near adulthood.
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