Wombats

Wombats are short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupials that are native to Australia. They are adaptable and habitat tolerant, and are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas where they 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 are herbivores and have an extraordinarily slow metabolism, taking around 8 to 14 days to complete digestion, this, however, aids their survival in arid conditions. Wombats generally move slowly but when threatened, they can reach up to 40 km/h (25 mph) and maintain that speed for 150 meters (490 ft). All species of wombats are endangered and protected in every Australian state.