The marsupial with a backward-facing pouch that keeps dirt out while digging is the wombat.
Wombats are sturdy, burrowing marsupials native to Australia. Their pouches open toward the rear, an unusual arrangement that protects a developing young wombat from soil as its mother digs with powerful claws and rodent-like front teeth. The pouch’s direction does not mean the young is carried upside down; it simply places the opening away from the main stream of excavated dirt.
Wombats build extensive burrow systems and are generally nocturnal or crepuscular, becoming especially active during cooler evening and early-morning hours. Their compact bodies and strong limbs are adapted for tunneling, while their continuously growing incisors help them feed on grasses, roots, and other tough vegetation.
Another famous wombat feature is its cube-shaped feces, which are used to mark territory and are less likely to roll away from elevated marking sites. Wombats are sometimes confused with koalas because both are Australian marsupials, but they belong to different ecological groups: koalas climb and feed on eucalyptus leaves, while wombats are ground-dwelling burrowers.