There are three living species of wombats that are all members of the Vombatidae family. Each species has a neutral colored coat from brown to gray or black. They average a little over 3 feet in length and weigh between 44 and 77 pounds.

Wombats use their wide bodies, long claws, and strong feet to dig an extensive system of tunnels, which they will jump into if threatened.

Their rear ends are extremely dense and primarily made of cartilage, so predators have a hard time pursuing the wombat once they get in a tunnel. Occasionally, a wombat will let a predator force its head over their back, and then use its strong feet to crush the intruder’s skull!

Wombats are short, fat marsupials found in Australia. They thrive in a variety of habitats such as the forests, mountains, and heathland areas throughout south-eastern Australia.

Wombats are herbivores eating mainly grasses, roots, bark, and more. As with rodents, a wombat’s teeth will continuously grow so the tough chewing that comes with a vegetarian diet is good for them. Their metabolism is extremely slow and can take up to two weeks to fully digest a meal. This is beneficial during harsh temperatures when food is not as plentiful.

Breeding season for wombats is in the spring. After mating, the females will be pregnant for a little under a month when she will give birth to a single young. Like other marsupials, the baby is born extremely defenseless and must crawl to its mother’s pouch to grow and develop for the next 6-7 months. A wombat’s pouch is unique in that it faces backwards so dirt doesn’t get in it when its digging.

There is some debate over the evolution of wombats; one theory that could date as far back as 40 million years ago with the rhinoceros-sized Diprotodon!

Don’t let their stocky look fool you, wombats can run up to 25 mph once they get going!