A wombat of southeastern Australia, Tasmania and nearby islands. It digs burrows to rest in and feeds on grasses.
It has a sturdy body, short legs and strong digging claws. The nose is bare.
Bare-nosed Wombats eat grass and use burrows. Their distinctive cube-like droppings may be deposited on low rocks or stumps.
A 2021 study examined intestines and measured tissue properties. Corners were already present in droppings near the intestinal end. Differences in wall stiffness and contraction were proposed to explain their formation.
The researchers also modelled alternating stiff and soft regions mathematically. In Tasmania, a separate conservation concern is local mange outbreaks, with monitoring and research into responses in the wild.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Mange causes serious local impacts in parts of Tasmania. Government and university work includes monitoring its extent and wombat numbers and researching responses in the wild.