Wombats belong to the order Diprotodontia and the family Vombatidae. They are native to Australia and Tasmania and are a part of the marsupial class that includes kangaroos.
Wombats come in three species: Common (Vombatus
ursinus), Northern hairy Nosed (Lasiorhinus krefftii) and Southern Hairy Nosed
(Lasiorhinus latifrons).
Herbivores by nature, wombats eat a steady
diet of grass, herbs and tree bark. They have powerful yet short legs for
digging burrows and foraging for food. They have sharp claws and strong teeth
for gnawing on tree bark and aiding in survival. Other interesting features of the wombat
include a pouch for holding their young and a very slow digestive system. It
can take a wombat two weeks to digest their food.
Wombats have two main natural predators:
dingoes and Tasmanian devils. Wombats defend themselves by jumping into tunnels
and using their bulk to block attacks or running away. A wombat can reach a
speed of 25 miles per hour.