Wombat

The wombat is a marsupial mammal found in and around Australia that looks like a small bear.National Geographic: Wombat The word wombat comes from the name given to the animal by the Eora aborigines, vomat.EcoTraining: Common Wombat Its scientific name is Vombatus ursinus, where ursinus means bearlike.BBC: Wildfacts - Common Wombat The wombat can also be found in Tasmania and Flinders Island.Animal Diversity Web: Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

The common wombat can be gray, yellow, dark brown or black. It has a flat head, small eyes, round ears, stubby tail and coarse hair.Animal Diversity Web: Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) The two species of the hairy-nosed wombat have softer fur, longer, more pointy ears and are smaller than the common wombat.MSN Encarta: Wombat The wombat has short strong legs and claws which enables it to burrow effectively.Animal Diversity Web: Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) It has a very slow metabolism, sometimes taking two weeks to totally digest a meal.Australian Wildlife: Wombats Generally slow moving, the wombat can run 25 miles per hour for short distances when needed.Australian Wildlife: Wombats

The common wombat is solitary; other species can be more social, living in larger groups.National Geographic: Common Wombat

The wombat lives in one of three different types of burrows. The minor burrow is smallest and used primarily for escape purposes. The medium burrow is used for refuge. The medium burrow may be enlarged to become a major burrow, which may have many entrances and room for more than one wombat to sleep.Animal Diversity Web: Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

Females give birth at any time during the year. The young will crawl into the mother's pouch and stay there for about five months, returning when in danger for up to two months afterwards.National Geographic: Common Wombat

• Ettamogah Wildlife Sanctuary: Australian Wombat Coloring Page

• Quizmoz: Wombat Quiz

• Planet Ozkids: Wombat Word Search Puzzle

• Wombania: Wombat Day October 22 | Comic Strips

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