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You are here: Home / Animals / How did Wombats get their Name and Where do they Live in Australia?

How did Wombats get their Name and Where do they Live in Australia?

February 16, 2020 by Karen Hill

The Wombat is not a bat at all, but a short-legged, muscular marsupial with a very short tail that lives in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.

wombat in australia

The Wombat’s name comes from the Eora Aboriginal people who were the natives of Sydney, Australia.

A backwards pouch which helps keep the dirt out while digging makes the Wombat unique from other marsupials. Wombats are herbivores and have a very slow metabolism which matches their slow movement, but can run fast if threatened.

Wombats defend their burrows aggressively against intruders, fighting back with their hind legs.

A wombat is the common name for three different species of burrowing Australian marsupials, the largest of which can grow up to three feet in length. They superficially resemble what you’d get if you crossed a guinea pig with a stocky little dog.

Wombats are both loved and hated by the humans who coexist with them. They’re loved because they tend to be docile and easily domesticated, so some people keep them as pets.

However, they’re hated by farmers, who believe that the little burrowers do damage to their crops. Although it’s true that wombats deserve a share of the blame for eating some crops, it’s likely that rabbits are doing the bulk of the damage.

Regardless, as a result of competition with rabbits, the efforts of farmers, and damage done by cars, in some areas of Australia the wombat has been all but eradicated.

Wild wombats are now considered an endangered species and their predators are Dingos and Tasmanian Devils .

Related Facts

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  • What Is a Wombat and Where Do Wombats Come From?
  • Why Does Australia Have So Many Unusual Native Animals Such As Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats and Wallabies?
  • How do scientists determine whether a species is endangered or extinct?
  • How Did Australia Get Its Name, What Does Australia Mean In Latin, and Is Australia Part of the United Kingdom?
  • How Many People Live In Australia and How Many People Who Live In Australia Are Immigrants?

Filed Under: Animals

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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