Common Wombat (Vombatus Ursinus) Organism Profile

Introduction to Vombatus Ursinus

Vombatus ursinus is the scientific name for the organism commonly known as the common wombat (Matthews & Green, 2012). The common wombat is also referred to as the bare-nosed wombat or coarse-haired wombat. There are three subspecies: Vombatus ursinus hirsutus, Vombatus ursinus tasmaniensis, and Vombatus ursinus ursinus. The common wombat is mainly found on Flinders Island in the Bass Strait Islands. Wombats prefer living in the temperate forest areas of southern Australia. They tend to avoid rainforests and are mostly found in mountainous areas. In Tasmania and New South Wales, wombats are found at lower altitudes in areas with open vegetation such as woodlands, heathland, and coastal scrub. Wombats prefer to dig their shelters on slopes above gullies and creeks, and they feed in grassy clearings.

Wombats are native to Australia and belong to the Vombatidae family. Many people have noted that wombats appear to be smiling because of their large teeth. Wombats have a lifespan of around 12 years and can breed at any time during the year provided the climate is favorable.

Physical Characteristics and Habitat

The common wombat typically ranges between 75 and 85 cm in length and weighs around 20 kg. However, wombats are known to reach up to 35 kg and 1.2 meters in length. The body of a wombat is squat and bear-like, with small ears and eyes and a large nose. Wombats have powerful shoulders and a small tail of around 25 mm in length that is hidden by fur. Their fur can be grey, brown, or black, though it is often colored by dirt. Wombats have large paws and claws that they use for digging. They differ from other marsupials in that their upper jaw contains only two incisor teeth. The common distinguishing features of the common wombat are a large naked nose, short slightly rounded ears, and a coarse, thick coat.

Reproduction and Joey Development

Wombats generally give birth to a single young, called a joey, though twins do occur in rare cases. The gestation period of a wombat is between 20 and 22 days. According to Story, Driscoll, and Banks (2014), when a joey is born it is extremely small and underdeveloped, weighing approximately 2 grams and being roughly the size of a jellybean. The joey is hairless with very thin skin and cannot regulate its own body temperature. It cannot see or hear, but it has a well-developed sense of smell. Immediately after birth, the joey crawls into its mother's pouch, where it attaches itself to one of the teats. The teat then swells inside the joey's mouth to keep it attached and prevent it from falling out of the pouch.

The joey remains in the mother's pouch, nursing and developing, for around four to ten months, with an average of eight months. Initially, the joey will leave the pouch for short periods. When frightened or disturbed, it will return to the mother's pouch for safety. After one to three months of this behavior, the joey will no longer use the pouch but may still shelter under its mother for protection. Young wombats are weaned at 11 to 15 months. At night, the young wombat is left alone in the burrow while the mother goes out to forage for food. As it matures, it may begin to follow its mother on foraging trips. The mother rips up tender grass roots and leaves them on the ground for the young wombat. During this period, the young wombat grows rapidly and can double its body weight within three to eight months of being weaned.

The young wombat stays with its mother for about two years, though some leave shortly after being weaned. Others remain with their mothers until fully grown, at which point the mother is forced to chase them away. Females tend to stay longer with their mothers than males. Roger, Bino, and Ramp (2012) have shown that wombats are ready to breed after their second year.

Conclusion

The common wombat is one of the largest burrowing mammals. Wombats normally give birth to a single offspring, though cases of twins have been recorded. Females give birth approximately every three years, and the offspring remains with the mother for up to two years. The offspring — called a joey — is underdeveloped at birth, lacking sight and hearing, but possesses a well-developed sense of smell. After birth, the joey stays in the mother's pouch for around eight months before beginning to venture out for short periods. Wombats have open-rooted teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives, enabling them to process their coarse diet without wearing their teeth down. A wombat typically lives for around 10 to 12 years.