Wonderful Wombats
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340216)
Rockingham, Australia
December 15, 2015 10:05pm CST
Jeff Moffitt mentioned in a comment that he didn't know much about wombats. What better excuse to write a post about one of Australia's most unique marsupials? The wombat is the largest burrowing animal in the world and the second largest marsupial. Three distinct species remain. Depending on the species, they range from 29 to 45 inches long and weigh between 48 to 88 lbs. The adults are about 14 inches tall. They have coarse, bristly hair.
The body is barrel-shaped and stocky, with short, powerful limbs and wide paws. They walk on all fours but can reach 40 kmh over short distances. Like the koala, they have a cartilaginous pad over the rump which protects them from injury or attack. When threatened they go their burrow and present their rump as a shield. This leaves nothing for a dingo or other attacker to grab.
They have a rear-opening pouch which means it doesn't fill with sand. The joey is the size of a jellybean when born, blind and hairless. It stays in the pouch for about 8 months. They are playful and clever but don't make good pets. They can be extremely destructive and only concrete or steel will stop them is they are intent on going somewhere. There is a lovely children's book called 'A Day in the Life of a Wombat' which is quite delightful. After reading this book, it's hard not to want one of your very own!
17 people like this
17 responses
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
16 Dec 15
An interesting post that leaves me a lot more knowledgeable than I was five minutes ago! Thanks for so many interesting details.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 15
I left out as many interesting details as I put in! That's the trouble with trying to keep stuff short.
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
16 Dec 15
40 kmh! That's really moving. I wouldn't have expected them to be able to hit that kind of speed.
2 people like this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
17 Dec 15
@JudyEv Agreed, they don't look built for speed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 15
@LadyDuck I can't find anything on the net but I felt sure there was a biggish population of them somewhere. They survive in the mountains in Australia where they have a lot of snow but I don't know the details of what temperatures they can tolerate, etc.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
16 Dec 15
I have seen them at various zoos so I think I know them but the information was really helpful
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 15
In the wild they are only found in the eastern states, not in West Australia. There is evidence that they were here centuries ago but not any more.
@marijuana (570)
• Tel Aviv, Israel
16 Dec 15
I have never heard about wombat before :) thanks for introducing it to me. It looks like a tiny hairy pig :)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 15
I'd hardly call him ugly but perhaps I'm a bit biased :)
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 16
They look cute and cuddly but do not make good pets. Thanks for reading.
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Dec 15
Whoa I didn't realize they were that big.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 16
They look very cuddly don't they? But looks are a bit deceiving sometimes.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
16 Dec 15
i thought only baby kangaroos were called joeys. so your post made me look it up. found out all infant marsupials are joeys.
1 person likes this
