Wombat habitat mainland. Wombat - an amazing animal of Australia - a sea of ​​facts

Wombats (lat. Vombatidae) are a family of two-incisor marsupials that live in Australia. Wombats are burrowing herbivores that resemble small bears in appearance.
Wombats reach a length of 70 to 120 cm and a weight of 20 to 40 kg. Their body is compactly built, their limbs are short and strong. Each of them has five fingers, of which the outer four are crowned with large claws adapted for digging the ground. The tail is short, the large head gives the impression of being slightly flattened, and the eyes are small.

Interestingly, the wombat's jaws and teeth show similarities to rodents. In the upper and lower rows, wombats have a pair of front cutting teeth. Chewing teeth They are built very simply, there are no angular teeth. Wombats have the fewest teeth among marsupials.

Wombats are the largest living mammals that dig and spend most of their lives underground. With their sharp claws, they dig out small residential caves in the ground, which sometimes form complex tunnel systems.

An adult wombat has almost no natural enemies. One of the few is the human-introduced dingo. The back of a wombat's body is extremely hard due to thick skin, cartilage and bones. In case of danger, they can turn their backs, block their hole and repel most of the attackers, or crush their limbs against the walls of their living cave. In the back of the back, on the pelvic bones, the wombat has something like a shield that protects it when attacked from behind. He also applies strong blows butts his head like a ram or a goat. If a dog crawls into his hole, he waits for it without leaving his spot, and then tries to drive it into a corner, against the wall of the hole, and strangle it there. Much more often, people, especially cars, are to blame for the death of a wombat. In areas where human impact is low, wombat numbers are determined by the availability of nutritious plants.

On short distances Wombats can reach speeds of up to 42 km/h, and can also escape from danger by swimming or climbing trees.

Wombats eat young shoots of grass. Sometimes roots, mosses and mushrooms are also eaten. Wombats have a very slow and efficient metabolism. It takes them 14 days to digest food. Wombats are the most efficient water consumers of all the mammals evolution has produced. They only need 22 ml of water per kg of body weight per day. Even such kangaroos, adapted to Australian conditions, consume four times more water.

There are five known extinct genera of wombats. Wombats appeared about 18 million years ago during the Miocene. The closest relatives of wombats are representatives of the family marsupial bears(koalas). Wombats have numerous similarities with them in the structure of their teeth, skull and sperm. However, there are also a number of morphological differences indicating that the evolutionary lineages of koalas and wombats diverged approximately 36 million years ago. An even closer relative of wombats was Diprotodon, a giant rhino-sized marsupial that went extinct only about 40,000 years ago.

After the settlement of Australia by Europeans, the range of wombats decreased significantly. The reasons for this were the destruction of their habitats, competition with introduced species and hunting of wombats. Today, only 118 specimens of the Queensland wombat remain, living in a small nature reserve in Queensland. The other two species are more common and are not yet endangered (text - Wikipedia).

The wombat is a large burrowing herbivore. This ancient Australian animal, which has lived on Earth for about 18 million years, looks like a bear cub. Well-fed, with short legs, clumsy, the animal evokes affection.

Wombats (Vombatidae) – family marsupial mammals from the two-incisor order (Diprotodontia). These animals are close relatives of koalas - in ancient times they had common ancestors, one of which reached the size of a hippopotamus. But once the wombat’s paths diverged: the first found refuge in the trees, and the second began to dig deep holes.

Wombats live only in Australia - in the southeast of the continent, as well as on the Tasmania and Flinders Islands. Feature animals - the ability to maintain high population densities even in unproductive areas.

In sandy coastal areas, the population of short-haired wombats reaches very high densities. They can also be found in the alpine belt up to the snow line and above.

Long-haired wombats favor dry regions where soil fertility is too low to support livestock, but these marsupials thrive here.

Types, descriptions and photos of wobmats

Family include 3 modern looking, combined into 2 types:

1) Genus Lasiorhinus, which includes the Queensland wombat (Lasiorhunus krefftii) and the long-haired wombat (Lasiorhunus latifrons);

2) The genus Vombatus, consisting of one species - the Short-haired wombat (Vombatus ursinus).

The animal's physique is dense, its legs are short, and its tail is not developed. The muzzle is slightly flattened, the eyes are small, a big nose covered with wool.

In the photo of the wombat you can see its external features.

The girdle of the forelimbs is strong and heavy, the humerus is wide, which makes the front of the body especially powerful. The front paws are massive with large, long claws.

Females and males of all species are similar, but male Queensland wombats have a shorter body than females, a thicker neck, and more powerful shoulders. The animal's skull is massive, wide and flattened. Teeth grow throughout your life.

Very interesting feature wombats - their back part of the body, which, if necessary, can serve as a kind of shield. It is very hard due to its rough skin, cartilage and bones, which is very useful when you need to repel an enemy attack. If a dingo dog tries to get into the hole, our hero, turning his back, blocks the entrance to the hole, and if the enemy still ends up in the hole, the animal drives him into a corner and tries to strangle him with his hindquarters.

Short-haired wombat

This species lives in forests and groves, thickets of heather and alpine meadows throughout south-east Australia, as well as Tasmania and Flinders Islands.

Body length 90-115 cm, tail length – 2.5 cm; height at withers 36 cm; weight – 22-39 kg. The coat is coarse and varies in color from black to brown and gray.

Short-haired wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

Long-haired wombat

The long-haired wombat lives in central South Australia. In arid regions it inhabits forest areas and is also found in meadows and steppes.

Body length 77-94 cm, tail – 2.5 cm; height at withers 36 cm, weight – 19-32 kg. The coat is soft, its color varies from gray to black with light spots, the muzzle is covered with fur, the ears are long and pointed.

Long-haired wombat (Lasiorhunus latifrons)

Over the past two hundred years, the ranges of short-haired and long-haired wombats have been reduced by 10-50% due to habitat destruction and competition with rabbits and livestock for food, but they are safe in most of their original range.

In some areas of Victoria, the short-haired wombat is considered a pest, and its numbers even have to be controlled.

Queensland wombat

One of the rarest animals today. This species was found in only three places, in two of which it disappeared in early XIX centuries due to changes in habitats and the use of poisons against rabbits. The latter population survived due to the fact that in 1974 its range entered national park Epping Forest (Central Queensland). In 1980 there were only 35 individuals, but by 1995 the population had doubled. To date, according to different sources There are between 90 and 118 Queensland wombats.

Queensland wombat (Lasiorhunus krefftii)

This is the largest species. The average body length of males is 102 cm, females - 107 cm; height at withers 40 cm; males weigh about 30 kg, females - 32.5 kg. The coat is silky, silver in color, and there are dark circles around the eyes.

Lifestyle

Not much is known about the behavior of wombats in nature, since they are secretive, nocturnal animals that spend a lot of time in burrows underground. Burrows often have multiple exits, side tunnels and nesting chambers and can be over 30 meters long.

Wombats can live alone or in groups of up to 10 animals; the number of males and females in the group is usually the same. As a rule, several groups live close to each other.

These animals are characterized unusual feature dispersal: young males and females remain in the area where they were born, while adult females, after raising their offspring, can move to another area. They disperse over a distance of up to 3 kilometers.

The diet of wombats mostly consists of young grass; sometimes they eat plant roots, fruits of berry bushes, mosses and mushrooms.

Animals have a very low basal metabolic rate, and their energy requirements are the lowest among marsupials. Low energy requirements coupled with efficient digestion of fiber mean that wombats require little food. Thus, the animal spends much less time searching for food than would be expected from a herbivore of its size. Total feeding time for the Queensled wombat at favorable conditions– only 2 hours a day. This allows the animals to spend most of their time underground. In case of unfavorable weather conditions They do not fall into torpor, but may not leave the hole for several days.

The breeding season for long-haired and Queensland wombats is in spring and early summer, while short-haired wombats breed at any time of the year. Pregnancy lasts 20-22 days, there is 1 cub in the litter. The newborn moves into the mother's pouch, where it develops from 6 to 10 months (depending on the species, the baby of the Queensland species remains in the pouch the longest).

The life expectancy of these animals in nature is on average 15 years, in captivity 20-25 years. The long-lived wombat from the Australian park is also known wildlife Ballarat. He lived for 32 years.

In contact with

The wombat animal lives in Australia. It is very similar to a small bear cub and is a marsupial.

Cute wombats

The wombat is a marsupial rodent native to Australia.

These herbivores, living on the territory of the smallest continent called Australia, are somewhat reminiscent of bears, only much smaller in size. Wombats belong to the family of two-incisor marsupials.

Description of appearance

The animals reach approximately 71 - 121 centimeters in length. At the same time, a wombat can weigh from 21 to 44 kilograms. The animal's head is large, slightly flattened on the sides, and there are two small eyes on the head. The paws are five-fingered and very strong, although short. Each toe is equipped with a claw, which is quite large for the size of the animal. Nature rewarded " little bear"with such limbs that he could easily dig himself shelter and housing in the soil. Wombats have a short, inconspicuous tail. This animal is a marsupial.

Wombat habitats

As already mentioned, the Australian continent is considered the distribution area of ​​wombats. The states of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales are especially densely populated with wombats. To build housing, animals choose an area where the soil is suitable for digging a hole.

What do wombats eat?

In order to saturate their body with all the substances necessary for life, wombats eat young grass. Other parts of plants, such as roots, are also suitable for them as food. In addition, animals feed on the fruits of berry bushes, mushrooms and moss. Special structure mouth and a very acute sense of smell gives the wombat the ability to selectively eat only that part of the plant that it requires.

It is noteworthy that food in an animal’s body is digested for a very long time: sometimes this process can take up to two weeks! And wombats hardly need water at all, just like camels!

Wombat lifestyle

These mammals spend most of their existence underground, in their burrows. It is worth saying that, often, a wombat’s home is a complex multi-pass tunnel. The animal is capable of digging a hole almost four meters deep, and the length of the “underground structure” reaches twenty meters!

Wombats prefer to go out at night to get food; during the day, they spend time in their “home,” giving their bodies a rest. Concerning temperature conditions, then the cold is very destructive for these animals. Wombats also float well on water and can even swim; they can also climb trees well. Well, it’s not worth talking about the ability to burrow - wombats, with their nimble paws, have almost no equal in this. The life of these mammals lasts up to 15 years of age, although cases have been recorded when animals in captivity lived up to 25 or even 34 years.

Breeding process

Reproduction in this species of mammals occurs year-round. However, wombats living in areas where there is little rainfall produce offspring only during certain seasons. One female can only carry one young in her pouch. A baby wombat stays in its mother’s “shelter” for up to six months, and sometimes up to eight months. After he gets out of the pouch, he prefers to be not too far from his mother.

Wombats are amazing animals. And because they are ancient (they have lived on earth for more than 50,000,000 years), and because they are not at all afraid of humans, unlike other wild animals.

Description

The appearance of a wombat is very funny; in childhood it resembles a pig, and when it grows up, it resembles a small one, however, retaining some of the features of a pig. However, this is limited to slight external resemblance, because the wombat is a marsupial, a digger, and also a rodent. The length of a wombat ranges from seventy to one hundred and twenty centimeters, and its weight ranges from twenty to forty kilograms.

It has a compact body, strong and short limbs. Each paw has five toes, four of which are topped with large claws that allow the wombat to dig. The head is large, seems a little flattened, small eyes. Short tail.

Wombats are divided into eight genera, but only three live today in the vast reserves of Australia, the remaining five are considered extinct. However, there is a version that they did not die out at all, they were just hiding underground. Extant wombats are divided into medium-haired, short-haired and woolly-nosed wombats.

Behavior

The wombat lives exclusively in Australia, as well as adjacent areas, for example, Tasmania. However, do not think that they are easy to meet here. These animals are the largest and best diggers. To satisfy the desire for constant excavation, wombats choose to build a home in a place with flat, dry, soft soil without stones, groundwater and other factors that create obstacles. Moreover, in Australia it is quite difficult to find such a place, despite the dry and hot climate.

Digging the earth - theirs favorite hobby. Short periods of time allow these animals to build entire underground cities for several families. The length of the burrows reaches 30m. In these giant "communal" corridors, wombats from different families, but no showdowns follow. They just go their separate ways. However, you should not let any foreign element into the hole.

In general, a wombat is laziness-like. Like her, he moves slowly, eats slowly and digests food for quite a long time - up to 14 days! The wombat drinks very little. They eat grass (young shoots), mushrooms, mosses and roots. What distinguishes it from the koala is its ability to run quite quickly, reaching speeds of up to 42 kilometers per hour. A wombat can also escape from danger by climbing a tree or swimming.

The animals do not have enemies, except for one introduced by humans -. If a dingo decides to dine on a wombat, it will hide in a hole, also trying to lure the unlucky hunter inside. After which he turns his back to the enemy and crushes him like a powerful press. The wombat has a back part consisting of rough skin, cartilage and bones, and there are no painful points there. Wherein heavy weight and claws that allow it to rest on the ground make the stern a serious weapon. Dingo can only sympathize.

Few people have heard about the wombat, a marsupial animal that looks like a koala bear. But, unlike the latter, wombats do not prefer to live in trees, but simply, with fanatical desire, dig holes in which they hide from predators and people. The passages in the ground are very long, branched, up to 20 meters long and up to 3 meters deep with many entrances. By digging under fences, they harm local farmers, which is why animals are poisoned, and as a result, there is one more entry in the Red Book.

Australian wombat

Description of the wombat

Due to their constant digging, they have very strong and short front legs with powerful claws. The fur is very thick, warm, brown in color, less often gray or black. Although they belong to the marsupials, they grow two front incisors throughout their lives, like those of a cat, which are necessary for obtaining food.

Characteristics of a wombat:

• Length – up to 1.2 meters;
• Weight – up to 35 kg;
• Life expectancy in captivity is up to 25 years.

Adult wombat

Although the animal is considered stupid, which is why they are practically untamed, their social relationships change radically outside and in their burrows. On the surface of the earth, the male will behave aggressively with strangers, defending his possessions, and underground, if the passages accidentally intersect, but the animals will never start a fight.

When frightened, an animal can even surprise you with its agility! A wombat can climb a tree, dive into water, and run at speeds of up to 60 km/h!

But it’s better not to tempt fate, as they are unpredictable, and if there is danger, the beast will attack.

Buying a marsupial

This is a very rare animal, and to buy it, you may have to travel halfway across the country, waiting for your turn for a month or two. Officially, the export of animals from Australia is prohibited, and only a large zoo can purchase them. Of course, don’t even try to look for ads on Avito, they don’t sell wombats from their hands, it would be a scam.

Baby wombat and its mother

• Carefully examine the cub to ensure there are no injuries to the skin;
• Eyes and ears are clean;
• Not painful looking.

It’s hard to say about activity and smell; you’ll have to trust the breeder. If possible, look at the wombat’s parents, the living conditions, and how pleasant the breeder is to communicate with.

The price of the animal is also not clearly defined, but varies within 50,000 rubles.

Apartment life

It was already mentioned above that wombats are practically untamable. Firstly, they are very stupid, it is useless to try to accustom them to a nickname, they will not respond anyway. There is not even any talk about basic training and commands. Secondly, although accidentally, they will damage furniture and the floor with their clawed paws. They show aggression only when necessary; in normal situations they are kind and calm, but they can still injure a person, not on purpose. Therefore, families with children and elderly people should not have them.

Happy wombat

Wombats are indifferent to “bodily affection” from humans. It’s not that they don’t like to be petted, but they don’t show much enthusiasm like cats. They also do not require any care, the only thing is to let them eat and dig in the ground. Ideal conditions- a dacha, a garden plot, in general not a home apartment.

Nutrition

The wombat feeds on roots, young shoots, berries, moss and mushrooms. In a word - herbivore. Their whole life comes down to searching for food, defending territory, and digging canals.

In search of food

It is noteworthy that wombats use energy very sparingly and can only eat a couple of times a month. They also require very little water. Arid climate Australia dictates its own rules of survival.

And remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed!