Wombats are large herbivorous animals with a strong build and short legs. They reach a length of 1.2 m and a weight of up to 39 kg. They have a thick, broad head and a rudimentary tail. They have a brood pouch that opens to the rear (the young enter the pouch from the side of the mother's rump). There are two nipples in the bag. There are no fangs in the teeth. In the spring, after 20-21 days of gestation, one young is born, which remains in a well-developed pouch for 6-7 months. They are fed with mother's milk for about 15 months. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 18 months. These animals lead a nocturnal lifestyle. They are easily tamed. They have a digestive system adapted to eating tough vegetation: a simple stomach, a wide, short cecum, and an extremely slow metabolism; they need 14 days to complete a complete digestive cycle, therefore they are not very mobile. Wombats dig burrow systems with multiple exits in the ground or under limestone rocks. The length of the corridors can reach up to 20 m. If necessary, they can reach a speed of 40 km/h, which they can maintain for 150 meters.

The Tasmanian wombat lives in eastern Queensland and New South Wales. They inhabit hilly desert areas and along forests. They live in burrows, which also serve as a hiding place in case of danger. One wombat can have up to 10 burrows. The wombat digs its burrows with its front paws equipped with long and sharp claws. Near the entrance to the burrow, it often digs a shallow hole in which it basks in the morning sun. Active mainly at night

The broad-headed wombat (Australian wombat) inhabits southern Australia - habitats with low humidity and high air temperature.

The rough-tailed wombat, which is a critically endangered species, lives only in Epping Forest National Park in central Queensland. It is an endangered species, because for a long time it was fished for valuable fur. About 70 individuals of this species live to this day.

10 Interesting facts about wombats

1. Wombats are herbivores. They feed mainly on grass, roots, leaves, bark of trees and shrubs
2. Wombats are closely related to the koala family. They have many common features related to the appearance and behavior of popular koalas.
3. Wombats can reach a body length of about 1.2 meters and usually weigh around 40 kg. They can live up to 20 years in the right conditions.
4. Wombats are nocturnal animals. During this time, they search for food and explore their surroundings. They sleep all day.
5. Wombat droppings are square-shaped. They are the only animals in the world that are capable of this. This is due to the shape of their intestines and the high hydration of the body during the day.
6. As wombats are nocturnal animals and only active for a few hours at night, their eyesight is very poor and they cannot see over long distances.
7. Poor eyesight these animals compensate for with excellent sense of smell. They have very long whiskers, thanks to which they can study the smells of the environment. Thanks to this, they can sense a predator from a long distance and find food.
8. Wombat teeth are large and wide, and an interesting fact is that they are constantly growing. These animals do not have fangs in their teeth.
9. The ancestors of wombats were huge. In size, these animals resembled rhinos. Over time, wombats became smaller and smaller
10. These animals can be stressed due to the lifestyle they lead. As a result, they can lose their fur, which is very dangerous for them. If they lose too much of it, then their body may not be able to withstand the lower temperature.
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