Wombat

Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

Phylum —chordata
Class — mammalia
Order — diprotodontia
Family — vombatidae

Genus – vombatus

Appearance

Common wombats are sturdy and built close to the ground. When fully grown, they can reach between 80 and 130 cm, and weigh between 17 and 40 kg.

Habitat

The species is endemic to Tasmania and south-eastern parts of Australia.

Behavior

Common wombats are solitary animals. However, their home ranges often overlap. There have been known cases of multiple individuals using the same burrow, but at different times. These animals are usually nocturnal and crepuscular. At dusk, when the temperature drops, they come out of their burrows to graze. At the cooler season, they have been observed sunbathing during the daytime hours. When looking for food, Common wombats are able to make long trips of several kilometers, during which they occasionally visit the same sites and create so-called "marsupial lawns" or short patches of grass. A wombat can use a number of resting chambers, where it constructs its nest as well as sleeps up to 16 hours per day in order to save energy. Wombat nests are made out of leaves, grass and sticks. Common wombats are not territorial in their sleeping chambers. However, when it comes to their feeding areas, these animals are highly territorial, defending their territories by scent marking.

Diet

Common wombat is an herbivorous (folivorous) animal, primarily feeding upon grass and moss. The diet of this animal also includes shrubs, roots and barks. When food is scarce, wombats are known to dig up layers of dead grass in order to get to the roots, which they consume.

Reproduction

They are thought to be polygynous, considering the fact that males of this species compete and even fight for their mating right. They breed all year round with peak period, occurring during winter months. Females give birth with an interval of 2 years. Gestation period lasts for about 20-30 days, yielding a single joey. The newborn baby is very tiny, about the size of a jelly bean. It remains in the pouch of its mother for the first six months of its life. The female suckles her offspring for around 15 months. Young remain with their mother, until they become independent at approximately 18-20 months old. Common wombats reach sexual maturity after two years old.

Wombats have an average lifespan of 15 years in the wild and 20 years in captivity.

Incaptivity

The wombat is timid and cautious, but it is easy to tame it. Wombats are very cute animals, so Australians sometimes keep them at home: for them, a wombat is just a big hamster. The wombat is really easy to tame and quite good-natured. But it can also be dangerous. If it is necessary, the wombat can protect itself-biting furiously and inflicting wounds with its claws. It can happens at any time-wombats, like all marsupials, are unpredictable and do not differ in special intelligence.

He can live in a house, he can even be taught to open doors. This animal has good hearing and smell, but poor vision. There are occasions when a wombat patiently sat near the clothes of its owner, not suspecting that the owner of these clothes is not at home.

When having a wombat as a pet, keep in mind that by constantly digging underground passages, the wombat digs up walls and fences.

The diet of these mammals is based on the use of young plant shoots, berries, some types of mosses and fungi. At the same time, they do not eat so often – one hearty meal is enough for 14 days. The body of wombats also consumes water sparingly. All this makes these animals quite unpretentious in captivity. At home, they can be fed with garden berries and fruits, some vegetables.