Common Wombatウォンバット

Vombatus ursinusLC— Least Concern

The common wombat is a stocky, burrowing marsupial native to the cooler forests and grasslands of southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. A powerful digger, it excavates extensive burrow systems that aerate the soil and shelter other species, earning it a reputation as an ecosystem engineer. It is best known for its unusual cube-shaped droppings and for defending its burrow by crushing threats against the tunnel ceiling with its tough rump. The IUCN classifies the species as Least Concern, with roughly 1.3 million wombats remaining in the wild.

Common Wombat (reference photo)
Photo: JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com) / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Diprotodontia / Vombatidae Source
Size
Body length about 90–115 cm
Weight
About 22–39 kg
Lifespan
Wild: about 15 years (some sources report about 5–6 years for local populations); captive: around 20 years, with a record of 34 years
Diet
Herbivore Herbivorous, eating grasses, bark, shrub roots, and mushrooms
Activity
Nocturnal in summer, resting in its burrow by day, but sometimes active during the day in winter
Distribution
The common wombat is found across the cooler regions of southern and eastern Australia, including Tasmania, Victoria, and mountainous parts of Queensland. Source

Did You Know?

  • Common wombats produce distinctively cube-shaped droppings, an unusual trait not seen in most other mammals. Source
  • When cornered in its burrow, a wombat can thrust its tough, cartilage-reinforced rump upward and slam it down to crush a predator's head against the tunnel ceiling. Source
  • Wombats are powerful diggers capable of excavating roughly a meter of burrow per day; their extensive tunnel systems aerate the soil and provide shelter for other species, earning them the label 'ecosystem engineers.' Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 4

Sapporoshimaruyama DoubutsuenHokkaidoOpened in 1951

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Naganoshichausuyama DoubutsuenNaganoThe nearest station is JR Shinonoi Station.

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Himeji Shiritsu DoubutsuenHyogoOpened in 1951

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Tama ZooTokyoOpened in 1958

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Temporarily closed facilities

Satsukiyama DAYZOOOsakaOpened in 1957

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Temporarily closed Official Site

Latest news

3

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Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Least Concern (LC)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why do wombats produce cube-shaped poop?
Common wombats are known for producing distinctly cube-shaped droppings, a trait believed to help the pellets stay stacked as scent markers without rolling away. Source
How do wombats defend themselves from predators?
If cornered in its burrow, a wombat can thrust its tough, cartilage-backed rump upward and slam it down to crush an attacker's head against the tunnel ceiling. Source
How long do common wombats live?
They typically live around 15 years in the wild, while in captivity they often reach 20 years or more, with the longest recorded captive wombat living to 34. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 4 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org