The Common Wombat - 13D KS and SA

Wombats are amongst the world’s largest burrowing animals and are dependent on their burrow environment for behaviour thermoregulation. They mainly relies on behavioural adaptations since temperatures vary much more on land than in water.

The common wombat, is the largest burrowing animal (Vombatus ursinus) and is one of three species of wombats. It is the only one in the genus Vombatus but is similar in appearance to the other two wombat species. Common wombats are solitary and inhabit their own burrows. They can grow to an average of 98 cm and a weight of 26 kg. They are a territorial species and can dig burrows ranging from 2 to 20 metres in length.

Habitat
It inhabits the south-eastern coastal regions of Australia. Its habitat includes woodlands, heath, coastal and mountainous regions. They prefer wetter, forested, rocky regions that are cooler. They also prefer sloping ground for proper burrow drainage.

Thermoregulation
The wombat is an example of a nocturnal animal. It is active at night when the temperatures are lower than during the day. This is useful for when foraging for food and water.

The wombat uses burrows to reduce water loss. The burrows become very humid due to water loss from the animal and surrounding soil. The more humid the air gets, the less water is lost from the wombat. Wombats minimise their water loss by staying in their burrow during the heat of the day. They require less water than almost any other mammal, which aids their survival in arid conditions. Wombats emerge to feed at night when the external temperature is equal to or less than that within the burrows. Thus, avoiding high ambient temperatures. Wombats usually spend around two thirds of their lives in their burrows. In summer, it is mainly nocturnal emerging from its burrow when the it is cool.

The wombat has a rounded body, small ears and short limbs. This reduces the surface area of which heat can be lost. When heat stressed, wombats roll on their back and expose their sparsely furred axillary (underarm) regions. Sometimes when the wombats go to sleep they lie on their backs with their feet in the air.

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