Wombat
Zoos Victoria has two types of Wombat in its care - the Southern Hairy Nosed and the Common Wombat
Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats are similar in size and shape to the Common Wombat, with silkier fur, long ears and furry muzzles. The Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat is a brownish-grey colour on its back, and pale grey underneath. Its head is broad with narrow, pointed ears and brown or white fur on the nose. The Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat is 70-94cm long, with a 2.5-6 cm tail. It weighs about 20-32kg.
The head of the Common Wombat is more rounded than that of the hairy-nosed species. The short ears are triangular and slightly rounded. The nose is large, shiny black and furless. Its fur is coarser, thicker and longer than that of the hairy-nosed wombats, better suited to a colder, wetter habitat. Fur colour varies from sandy to brownish black or even grey, sometimes flecked.
Wombats have short legs, and the second and third toes of the hind feet are fused, with a double claw used in grooming. Wombats are solid and stocky, with short legs and tail. Their front legs and shoulders are powerful. Their front feet are large, with bear-like long claws. They use their front legs for digging burrows. The dirt is pushed to one side and the wombat backs out, moving loose dirt with front or back paws.
Our Wombats
Information to follow soon
Common
Southen Hairy Nose: Lasiorhinus latifrons
Common Wombat: Vombatus ursinu
Common Wombat: small sections of southeast tip of Queensland, eastern New South Wales, eastern and southern Victoria, and southeast South Australia. Common throughout Tasmania and also on Flinders Island in Bass Strait.
Southern Hairy Nose: Parts of central Australia & Southeast Western Australia in arid and semi-arid habitat
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