The common wombat inhabits the hilly or mountainous coastal country of southeastern South Australia and as well, Tasmania and Flinders Island in Bass Strait. It used to occupy the other islands of Bass Strait, however, through hunting of humans, it has become extinct. Some zoologists have restricted the range of V. ursinus to Tasmania and Flinders Island and regard the mainland form as a second species, V. hirsutus.

Macdonald (1984), Norwak (1983)

Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )

The common wombat's average body size, from the head to the end of its body, ranges from 700 to 1,200mm. The wombat's tail is a mere stub. The general coloration of the animal varies from yellowish buff, silver gray, light gray, gray, dark brown, or black. Males and females have thick, heavy bodies, small eyes, flattened heads, round ears, and coarse, harsh fur. The common wombat is also equipped with short, powerful legs and long, strong foreclaws for digging their large, often complex burrows. Females have a pouch that opens posteriorly. Nowak (1983), Angus and Robertson (1983)

Range mass: 15 to 35 kg.

• Terrestrial

Requirements for living include a temperate, humid microclimate, suitable burrowing conditions, and native grasses for food. Slopes above creeks and gullies are favored sites for burrows. They mainly inhabit the wetter, subhumid, eucalypt forests, the hilly, or mountainous coastal country. Macdonald (1984), Nowak (1983)

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest

The common wombat is herbivorous. It feeds mainly on native grass, roots of shrubs and trees, sedges, matrushes, and fungi, using its forefeet to tear and grasp pieces of vegetation. Some individuals forage among refuse along the seashore. Its teeth are very much like those of rodents. Interestingly enough, the common wombat's teeth have adapted to breaking up its tough, highly fibrous food. Because of this, both upper and lower jaws have a single pair of incissors. These incissors are chisel-like and grow continuously, being kept to a reasonable size by constant wear.

Nowak (1983), Angus and Robertson (1983)

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 26.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 5.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 26.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 26.1 years.

The gestation period of female wombats has been estimated at 20 days. Young appear to be born at any time of the year, but births probably peak in late autumn (April to June in Australia). Females have pouches, like those of kangeroos, in which the young complete their development. As mentioned above, the female's pouch opens posteriorly. The pouch contains two teats; however, the normal liter size is one, although twins are known. Young first leave the pouch at six to seven months, but may return occassionally for three more months. Weaning may not occur until they are 15 months old and sexual maturity is attained after two years. The average lifespan is five years, although this species is capable of a long life span in captivity. The record longevity is 26 years and 1 month.

The major causes of death in wild populations include starvation during droughts, outbreaks of mange, predation by dingoes, and collisions with road vehicles.

Nowak (1983), Angus and Robertson (1983), Macdonald (1984)

Average birth mass: 0.5 g.

Average gestation period: 27 days.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 730 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 730 days.

The decline of the common wombat has resulted from humans exterminating them, hunting for sport, and competition for food with rabbits. Each species of wombat is protected to some degree in the different states in Australia, except in Victoria, where they are still threatened by hunting. Nowak (1983)

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

The common wombat is classed as vermin in eastern Victoria, mainly because of its damage to rabbit proof fences. Many times the common wombat's burrows pass under rabbit proof fences, which allows rabbits to get around those fences. This is a major nuisance to people who wish to either keep rabbits in the fence or keep them out of the enclosed area. Also, the openings of the wombat's burrows are hazardous to large livestock.

Angus and Robertson (1983), Macdonald (1984)

In 1965 the common wombat was wildly hunted because its fur had commercial importance. Recently it has been hunted for sport. Angus and Robertson (1983)