LEUNG_JL_WOMBAT

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=Common Wombat (//Vombatus Ursinus//)= Retrieved from: [] ||
 * [[image:http://www.wombats.net/wombat-pic.jpg width="446" height="318"]] ||
 * Figure 1: //Common wombat eating grass//

Scientific Classification

 * ==== **Kingdom** ==== || ==== Animalia ==== ||
 * ==== **Phylum** ==== || ==== Chordata ==== ||
 * ==== **Class** ==== || ==== Mammalia ==== ||
 * ==== **Order** ==== || ==== Diprotodontia ==== ||
 * ==== **Family** ==== || ==== Vombatidae ==== ||
 * ==== **Genus** ==== || ==== Vombatus ==== ||
 * ==== **Species** ==== || ==== V. ursinus ==== ||

Environment/Habitat
Common wombats are distributed along eastern Australia, Tasmania and Flinders Island. As it prefers to live in damp areas with temperate climate and constant showers, they are usually found on the slopes in woodland and eucalyptus forests as it allows the wombats to have a proper place to burrow and a proper drainage for their burrow. Being nocturnal animals, these burrows allow the wombats to have proper rest during the day, as these burrows are hidden underground, thus hiding them away from their predators.

Being a herbivore, they only feed on plants, thus the habitat that they live in provides all their necessities. Common wombats graze for 3 to 8 hours a day on average. Also, the wombats do not need to drink water constantly, because of the fact that they live in such moist environments and that they stay inside their burrows during the day, thus increasing their hydration.

Map
Retrieved from:[] Further edited by: James Leung ||
 * [[image:leungj-wombat/zsdtfyguhjkl.jpg]] ||
 * Figure 2: Map showing the distribution of common wombats, forests, rainfall in coastal areas and areas with equatorial, tropical, subtropical, desert, grassland and temperate climates.

Structural Adaptation
Averaged at 98 centimeters in height and 26 kilograms in weight, common wombats are strong contrasting its small physique. Being a quadruped with four short but powerful limbs, it helps the wombats to quickly escape in case of predators approaching. They have a muscular shoulder allowing it to dig a burrow quickly for rest and hide from their predators. Their front paws and rear feet are able to operate like human hands and feet and are also fitted with long and sharp claw on each digit. This allows the common wombat to grab food and place it in its mouth for ingestion.

Behavioral Adaptation
Having poor eyesight, common wombats rely heavily on smell to navigate, thus, they lay behind cube-shaped droppings on places such as their burrow, and safe areas for hiding and other hiding areas. These droppings carry unique smell, belonging to a particular male wombat. Male wombats exercise this behaviour to attract female wombats to the male wombat and mate. This behaviour allows male wombats to avoid confrontation between other male wombats, thus allowing the wombat to survive.

Physiological Adaptation
Seen as ‘fat’ animals, it takes around 2 weeks for a common wombat to complete digesting its food. This assists the wombats to survive in arid areas with scarce vegetation, by having a slow rate of digestion, it allows the wombats to extract all the nutrients provided from the food. The main reason for their slow metabolism is that wombats feed on innutritious food, which high in fibre but low in protein.

Structural Diagram
Retrieved from: [] Further edited by: James Leung ||
 * [[image:wombat.jpg width="560" height="348"]] ||
 * Figure 3: Diagram showing all adaptations of Common Wombat(behavioral, structural, and physiological)

Bibliography:
[]  7. Unique Australian Animals. (n.d.). //Unique Australian Animals //. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from http://australian-animals.net/wombat-c.htm  8. WOMBATS IN AUSTRALIA. (n.d.). //Makino's Workshop //. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from [|http://www.makinojp.com/bekkoame/wom_ae.ht]  9. Wombats, Wombat Pictures, Wombat Facts - National Geographic. (n.d.). //Animals - Animal Pictures - Wild Animal Facts - Nat Geo Wild - National Geographic //. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from []  10. designeranimals - Australian Mainland common wombat. (n.d.). //Wikispaces //. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from https://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/Australian+Mainland+common+wombat
 * 1) BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Diprotodon. (n.d.). //BBC - Homepage//. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from []
 * 2) Bare-nosed or Common Wombat. (n.d.). //Wombaniaâ„¢ Home of the Wombies//. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from http://www.wombania.com/wombats/common-wombat.htm
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Common Wombat (vombatus ursinus). (n.d.). //Google Sites//. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from [|https://sites.google.com/site/biologybfinalproject/animalia/common-wombat-vombat-ursinus#TOC-Habitat]
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Common wombat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_wombat
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Physical Characteristics of the Wombat. (n.d.). //Wombaniaâ„¢ Home of the Wombies//. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from []
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rainfall distribution. (n.d.). //Australian Water Resources 2005//. Retrieved June 25, 2012, from

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