Types of Wombats
Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus hirsutus) (picture courtesy of Womland used with permission)
Wombats have been classified in different ways over the years, but there are two basic types: the Common wombat with 3 subspecies, and the Hairy-nosed wombat, with 2 species.
The three subspecies of Common wombats are:
- The Australian mainland Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus hirsutus)
- The Tasmanian wombat (Vombatus ursinus tasmaniensis)
- The Flinders Island wombat (Vombatus ursinus ursinus)
Southern Hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) (picture courtesy of Wendy Morphett)
The two species of Hairy-nosed wombats are:
- The Southern Hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
- The Northern Hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)