Editing Wombat (section)

==Characteristics==
[[File:Wombat-Narawntapu.jpg|thumb|[[Tasmanian wombat]] in [[Narawntapu National Park]], Tasmania]]
Wombats dig extensive burrow systems with their rodent-like front teeth and powerful claws. One distinctive adaptation of wombats is their backward pouch. The advantage of a backward-facing pouch is that when digging, the wombat does not gather soil in its pouch over its young. Although mainly [[crepuscular]] and [[nocturnal]], wombats may also venture out to feed on cool or overcast days. They are not commonly seen, but leave ample evidence of their passage, treating fences as minor inconveniences to be gone through or under.

Wombats leave distinctive [[Cube|cubic]] [[faeces]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/18/scientists-unravel-secret-of-cube-shaped-wombat-faeces|last=Sample|first=Ian|title=Scientists unravel secret of cube-shaped wombat faeces|work=The Guardian|date=19 November 2018|access-date=19 November 2018}}</ref> As wombats arrange these feces to mark territories and attract mates, it is believed that the cubic shape makes them more stackable and less likely to roll, which gives this shape a biological advantage. The method by which the wombat produces them is not well understood, but it is believed that the wombat intestine stretches preferentially at the walls, with two flexible and two stiff areas around its intestines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=May|first=Natasha|date=2021-01-29|title=Box seat: scientists solve the mystery of why wombats have cube-shaped poo|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/29/box-seat-scientists-solve-the-mystery-of-why-wombats-have-cube-shaped-poo|access-date=2021-01-31|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The adult wombat produces between 80 and 100, {{convert|2|cm|in|1|adj=on|abbr=on}} pieces of feces in a single night, and four to eight pieces each bowel movement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dvorsky |first=George |url=https://gizmodo.com/we-finally-know-how-wombats-produce-their-distinctly-cu-1830414749 |title=We Finally Know How Wombats Produce Their Distinctly Cube-Shaped Poop |work=[[Gizmodo]] |date=2018-11-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119000124/https://gizmodo.com/we-finally-know-how-wombats-produce-their-distinctly-cu-1830414749 |archive-date=2018-11-19 |access-date=2018-11-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Australian Geographic|title=Mystery solved: this is how wombats do cube-shaped poo|date=28 November 2018|url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2018/11/mystery-solved-this-is-how-wombats-do-cubic-shaped-poo/}}</ref> In 2019 the production of cube-shaped wombat feces was the subject of the [[Ig Nobel Prize]] for Physics, won by Patricia Yang and [[David Hu (scientist)|David Hu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.improbable.com/ig-about/winners/#ig2019 |title=The Ig Nobel Prize Winners |website=improbable.com |date=August 2006 |publisher=Improbable Research |access-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1039/D0SM01230K | title=Intestines of non-uniform stiffness mold the corners of wombat feces | date=2021 | last1=Yang | first1=Patricia J. | last2=Lee | first2=Alexander B. | last3=Chan | first3=Miles | last4=Kowalski | first4=Michael | last5=Qiu | first5=Kelly | last6=Waid | first6=Christopher | last7=Cervantes | first7=Gabriel | last8=Magondu | first8=Benjamin | last9=Biagioni | first9=Morgan | last10=Vogelnest | first10=Larry | last11=Martin | first11=Alynn | last12=Edwards | first12=Ashley | last13=Carver | first13=Scott | last14=Hu | first14=David L. | journal=Soft Matter | volume=17 | issue=3 | pages=475–488 | pmid=33289747 | bibcode=2021SMat...17..475Y }}</ref>
[[File:Certified Wombat Faeces.jpg|thumb|Wombat cubic scat, found near [[Cradle Mountain]] in Tasmania]]
All wombat teeth lack roots and are ever-growing, like the incisors of rodents.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fraser |first1=Rebecca A. |last2=Grün |first2=Rainer |last3=Privat |first3=Karen |last4=Gagan |first4=Michael K. |date=November 2008|title=Stable-isotope microprofiling of wombat tooth enamel records seasonal changes in vegetation and environmental conditions in eastern Australia |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0031018208004677 |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |language=en |volume=269 |issue=1–2 |pages=66–77 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.08.004|bibcode=2008PPP...269...66F }}</ref> Wombats are [[herbivore]]s;<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Old |first1=Julie M. |last2=Vallin |first2=Blaire L. |last3=Thorley |first3=Rowan K. |last4=Casey |first4=Fiona |last5=Stannard |first5=Hayley J. |date=2024|title=DNA metabarcoding analysis of the bare-nosed wombat (''Vombatus ursinus'') diet |journal=Ecology and Evolution |language=en |volume=14 |issue=5 |pages=e11432 |doi=10.1002/ece3.11432 |pmid=38770127 |pmc=11103767 |bibcode=2024EcoEv..1411432O }} </ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last4=Old |first4=Julie M. |last2=Vallin |first2=Blaire L. |last3=Wolfenden |first3=Jack |last1=Casey |first1=Fiona |last5=Stannard |first5=Hayley J. |date=2024|title=Nutritional composition of plants and preliminary assessment of nutrition in free-ranging bare-nosed wombats (''Vombatus ursinus'') |journal=Australian Mammalogy |language=en |volume=46 |issue=2 |doi=10.1071/AM23013 }} </ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last2=Old |first2=Julie M. |last1=Casey |first1=Fiona |last3=Stannard |first3=Hayley J. |date=2023|title=Assessment of the diet of the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (''Lasiorhinus krefftii'') using DNA metabarcoding |journal=Ecology and Evolution |language=en |volume=13 |issue=9 |pages=e10469 |doi=10.1002/ece3.10469 |pmid=37693933 |pmc=10485309 |bibcode=2023EcoEv..1310469C }} </ref> their [[diet (nutrition)|diets]] consist mostly of [[Poaceae|grasses]], [[Cyperaceae|sedges]], [[Herb#Botanical definitions|herbs]], [[Bark (botany)|bark]], and [[root]]s. Their [[incisor]] teeth somewhat resemble those of [[rodent]]s ([[rat]]s, mice, etc.), being adapted for gnawing tough vegetation. Like many other herbivorous mammals, they have a large [[diastema]] between their incisors and the cheek teeth, which are relatively simple. The [[dental formula]] of wombats is {{DentalFormula|upper=1.0.1.4|lower=1.0.1.4|total=24}}.

Wombats' fur can vary from a sandy colour to brown, or from grey to black. All three known extant species average around {{convert|1|metre}} in length and weigh between {{convert|20|and|35|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.

Male wombats have [[penile spines]], a non-pendulous [[scrotum]], and three pairs of [[bulbourethral gland]]s. The [[Testicle|testes]], [[prostate]], and bulbourethral glands enlarge during the [[breeding season]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Vogelnest |first1=Larry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p8cDEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA331 |title=Medicine of Australian Mammals |last2=Woods |first2=Rupert |date=2008-08-18 |publisher=Csiro Publishing |isbn=978-0-643-09797-1 |language=en}}</ref> Female wombats give birth to a single young after a [[gestation]] period of roughly 20–30 days, which varies between species.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lasiorhinus latifrons|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lasiorhinus_latifrons.html|work=Animal Diversity Web|publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology|access-date=13 August 2010|author=Green, E|author2=Myers, P |year=2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Watson, A|title=Vombatus ursinus|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Vombatus_ursinus.html|work=Animal Diversity Web|publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology|access-date=13 August 2010|year=1999}}</ref> All species have well-developed [[pouch (marsupial)|pouches]], which the young leave after about six to seven months. Wombats are [[weaning|weaned]] after 15 months, and are sexually mature at 18 months.<ref name=EoM>{{Cite book|editor= Macdonald, D.|author= McIlroy, John|year= 1984|title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location= New York|pages= [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/876 876–877]|isbn= 978-0-87196-871-5|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/876}}</ref>

A group of wombats is known as a wisdom,<ref>{{cite news |url = https://geographyscout.com/animals/facts-you-may-not-know-about-the-wombat/ |title = Wombat |magazine = Animal Encounters |first = Ben |last = Britton |publisher = NatGeo Wild}}</ref><ref>{{citation|author1=Woop Studios|author2=Jay Sacher|title=A Compendium of Collective Nouns: From an Armory of Aardvarks to a Zeal of Zebras|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHhP_7zOG8wC|year=2013|publisher=Chronicle Books|isbn=978-1-4521-2952-5|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aHhP_7zOG8wC&pg=PA213 213]}}</ref> a mob, or a colony.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-04-11|title=Common wombat|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/common-wombat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309171002/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/common-wombat|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2021|access-date=2023-02-07|website=National Geographic|url-access= registration}}</ref>

Wombats typically live up to 15 years in the wild, but can live past 20 and even 30 years in captivity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wombat |url=https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/wombat|access-date=2023-02-07|website=animals.sandiegozoo.org}}</ref><ref name=ballarat>{{Cite web|title=Common Wombat|url=https://wildlifepark.com.au/wildlife_animals/common-wombat/|access-date=2023-02-07|website=Ballarat Wildlife Park|language=en-AU}}</ref> The longest-lived captive wombat lived to 34 years of age.<ref name=ballarat/>

In 2020, biologists discovered that wombats, like many other Australian marsupials, display bio-fluorescence under ultraviolet light.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/19/tasmanian-devils-glow-in-the-dark-australian-animals-glowing-platypus-wombat-echidna-bandicoot-scientists-investigate-australia-marsupials-light |title='The platypuses were glowing': The secret light of Australia's marsupials |website=www.theguardian.com |date= 18 December 2020|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-accidentally-discover-australian-marsupials-glow-in-the-dark/ |title=Scientists accidentally discover Australian marsupials glow in the dark |website=www.cnet.com |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/science/glowing-mammals-australia.html |title=More Mammals Are Hiding Their Secret Glow |newspaper=The New York Times |date= 18 December 2020|access-date=29 December 2020|last1= Giaimo|first1= Cara}}</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
File:Animaldentition vombatusursinus.png|Dentition, as illustrated in Knight's ''Sketches in Natural History''
File:Wombatskelett brehm.png|Wombat skeleton
File:Image_from_page_504_of_"Biology_of_the_vertebrates_-_a_comparative_study_of_man_and_his_animal_allies"_(1949)_(19763119883).jpg|Female reproductive tract
</gallery>