Which Australian mammal is the world’s largest burrowing herbivore?

The common wombat is the world’s largest burrowing herbivore.

This sturdy marsupial lives in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania and several offshore islands. It digs extensive burrows with powerful claws and uses them for shelter from heat, cold and predators. Wombats are mostly nocturnal or crepuscular, though they may emerge during the day in cool weather.

The common wombat feeds mainly on grasses, roots and other tough vegetation. Its metabolism is unusually slow, helping it survive on relatively poor food, and its distinctive cube-shaped droppings help mark territory without rolling away easily. The species has a backward-facing pouch, an adaptation that helps keep soil out while the mother digs.

The common wombat is one of three living wombat species. The southern and northern hairy-nosed wombats are distinguished by their hairy noses, while the common wombat has a bare nose. Habitat loss, road collisions, mange and competition with introduced animals affect some populations.