The common wombat (Vombatus ursinus), also known as the coarse-haired wombat or bare-nosed wombat, is a marsupial, one of three extant species of wombats and the only one in the genusVombatus. The common wombat grows to an average of 98 cm (39 in) long and a weight of 26 kg (57 lb).
Taxonomy
1807 illustration of the now-extinct wombats of King Island
The common wombat was first described by George Shaw in 1800. There are three extant subspecies:
Bass Strait (common) wombat (V. u. ursinus), the nominate form, was once found throughout the Bass Strait Islands, but is now restricted to Flinders Island to the north of Tasmania, and to Maria Island to the east of Tasmania where it was introduced. Its population was estimated at 74,000 in 2023.[4]
Hirsute wombat (V. u. hirsutus) is found on the Australian mainland.[5]
Tasmanian wombat (V. u. tasmaniensis) is found in Tasmania.[5][6] It is smaller than V. u. hirsutus.[7] Its population was estimated at 840,000 in 2023.[4]
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. The wombats found on Tasmania and Flinders Island are often smaller than their mainland counterparts. It is distinguished from both hairy-nosed wombats by its bald nose.
Distribution and habitat
Common wombats are widespread in the cooler and better-watered parts of southern and eastern Australia, including Tasmania and Victoria, and in mountain districts as far north as southern Queensland.[14][15]
Common wombats can be found at any elevation in the south of their range, but in the north of their range are only found in higher, more mountainous areas. They may be found in a variety of habitats including rainforest, eucalyptus forest, woodland, alpine grassland, and coastal areas.[16] In some regions, they have adapted to farmland and can even be seen grazing in open fields with cattle and sheep.
Behaviour
Common wombats have been described as ecological engineers,[17] as their burrow building results in soil turnover and aeration, which assists plant growth, and provides habitat for a range of invertebrate and vertebrate species.[18][19]
Common wombats are a solitary, territorial species, with each wombat having an established range in which it lives and feeds.[20] In this area, they dig a tunnel system, with tunnels ranging from 2 to 20 m in length, along with many side tunnels. Usually, only one entrance to the burrow exists, although they may create a smaller one with which to escape.
A wide range of other animals are known to make use of wombat burrows including reptiles, rodents, rabbits, echidnas, wallabies, birds and koalas. Wombats are usually fairly tolerant of non-threatening species, and have a number of burrows that they can occupy.[21][22] The typically switch the burrow that they sleep in every 1-9 days.[23]
Many wombats can live in the same burrow, and wombats normally live in the same burrow for their whole lifespan unless the wombat is forced out of the burrow by farmers or other animal species, or unless the burrow is destroyed. Often nocturnal, the common wombat does come out during the day in cooler weather, such as in early morning or late afternoon.[24]
Common wombats are herbivorous, subsisting on grass, snow tussocks, and other plant materials. Foraging is usually done during the night. They are the only marsupial in the world whose teeth constantly grow. Due to the underlying enamel structure of the teeth, the continuously growing teeth maintain a self-sharpening ridge[25] which allows easier grazing of the diet consisting of mainly native grasses.[24] Captive wombats are also fed a range of vegetables.[26]
Breeding
The common wombat can breed every two years and produce a single joey. Wombats appear to mate side-ways[27] The gestation period is about 20–30 days, and the young remain in the pouch for five months. When leaving the pouch, they weigh between 3.5 and 6.5 kg (7.7 and 14.3 lb). The joey is weaned around 12 to 15 months of age, and is usually independent at 18 months of age.[24] Wombats have an average lifespan of 15 years in the wild and 20 years in captivity.
female with joey
outside burrow
Joey on Maria Island
Threats
Whilst bare-nosed wombats are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN,[2] they remain threatened largely due to anthropomorphic factors[28] including habitat reduction, roadkill[29] and sarcoptic mange.[30] Sarcoptic mange is prevalent in the population[31] and remains the most problematic of issues facing bare-nosed wombats with wildlife carers regularly treating wombats in the field[30][32] with low-risk moxidectin.[33]
Wombats have also been reported to harbour a range of parasites including ticks and associated pathogens[34][35]
^ ab"Common Wombat". Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
^Spencer, Walter Baldwin; Kershaw, James A. (1910). The existing species of the genus Phascolomys. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne. Vol. 3. Melbourne: J. Kemp, government printer.
^"Common Wombat". Wombania's Wombat Information Center. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
^Thorley RK, Old JM (2020). Distribution, abundance and threats to bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus). Australian Mammalogy. 42, 249-256. DOI: 10.1071/AM19035
^Fleming, PA; Anderson, H; Prendergast, AS; Bretz, MR; Valentine, LE; Hardy, GES (2014-04-01). "Is the loss of Australian digging mammals contributing to a deterioration in ecosystem function?". Mammal Review. 44 (2): 94–108. doi:10.1111/mam.12014.
^"Living with wombats". NSW Department of Planning and Environment. NSW Government. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
^Carver, Scott; Stannard, Georgia L; Martin, Alynn M (6 September 2023). "The Distinctive Biology and Characteristics of the Bare-Nosed Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)". Annual Review of Animal Biosciences. 12 (1): 1–26. doi:10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-042133.
^Ferreira, J. M.; Phakey, P. P.; Palamara, J.; Rachinger, W. A.; Orams, H. J. (1989). "Electron microscopic investigation relating the occlusal morphology to the underlying enamel structure of molar teeth of the wombat (Vombatus ursinus)". Journal of Morphology. 200 (2): 141–149. doi:10.1002/jmor.1052000204. PMID29865656. S2CID46929011.
^Stannard, Hayley J.; Purdy, Katherine; Old, Julie M. (2021). "A survey and critical review of wombat diets in captivity". Australian Mammalogy. 43 (1): 66. doi:10.1071/AM20028. S2CID225365567.
^Thorley, Rowan K.; Old, Julie M. (2020). "Distribution, abundance and threats to bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus)". Australian Mammalogy. 42 (3): 249. doi:10.1071/AM19035. S2CID213536628.
^Mayadunnage, S.; Stannard, H. J.; West, P.; Old, J. M. (6 July 2022). "Identification of roadkill hotspots and the factors affecting wombat vehicle collisions using the citizen science tool, WomSAT". Australian Mammalogy. 45 (1): 53–61. doi:10.1071/AM22001.
^Old, Julie M.; Skelton, Candice J. A.; Stannard, Hayley J. (March 2021). "The use of Cydectin® by wildlife carers to treat sarcoptic mange in free-ranging bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus)". Parasitology Research. 120 (3): 1077–1090. doi:10.1007/s00436-020-07012-8. PMID33438043. S2CID231595549.
^Schraven, Andrea L.; Stannard, Hayley J.; Old, Julie M. (April 2021). "A systematic review of moxidectin as a treatment for parasitic infections in mammalian species". Parasitology Research. 120 (4): 1167–1181. doi:10.1007/s00436-021-07092-0. S2CID231989259.
^Beard, Danielle; Stannard, Hayley J.; Old, Julie M. (February 2021). "Parasites of wombats (family Vombatidae), with a focus on ticks and tick-borne pathogens". Parasitology Research. 120 (2): 395–409. doi:10.1007/s00436-020-07036-0. PMID33409643. S2CID253981632.
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