Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat

Description:

The wombat is a marsupial that digs burrows. It is about 1 metre long from nose to tail, the tail being only a couple of centimetres long. An adult weighs about 25-35 kilograms. Wombats are the largest burrowing mammals. There are three different kinds (species) of wombat. Some wombat burrows can be about 20 metres long, with several entrances and chambers. A wombat generally has a number of burrows in its territory, and may visit several during its nightly wanderings.The wombat marks its territory by leaving droppings (scats) on logs and rocks.

Habitat:

Two of the three species of Wombat are endangered. They are the northern hairy-nosed wombat, which is critically endangered, and the southern hairy-nosed wombat. Both have softer fur than the common wombat, and, as their names suggest, their noses are fur-covered. Their ears are pointy. The southern hairy-nosed wombat is found only on the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia, and the northern hairy-nosed wombat is found only in a small area of Queensland.They have suffered from loss of habitat and competition from introduced animals such as cattle, sheep and rabbits.

Notes:

The female's pouch has its opening facing the back legs. When she is digging, the pouch does not fill with soil. A female wombat gives birth to one very tiny young, which moves to her pouch after being born. It stays in the pouch for about 6 months, suckling milk from a teat in the pouch. After it leaves the pouch, it will follow her for another 11 months.