Species · GBIF taxon 5219996
Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat
Lasiorhinus latifronsAlso known as Broad-fronted Wombat
Southern hairy-nosed wombats are stout, powerful marsupials built for life in Australia's harsh, arid interior. They construct vast underground warrens that provide crucial refuge from the blistering daytime heat, emerging only under the cover of darkness to graze. These social burrowers possess a unique backward-facing pouch, preventing dirt from smothering their young while digging.
NocturnalBurrowingMarsupial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Native grasses, sedges, and herbaceous plants
Predators
- Dingoes
- Feral dogs
- Red foxes
ThreatsDrought, habitat fragmentation, competition with livestock, and sarcoptic mange
HabitatsSemiarid scrub, mallee woodlands, and shrublands
Life span10 to 15 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyVombatidae
- SpeciesLasiorhinus latifrons
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Can deliver a powerful bite or charge if cornered; observe from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Equipped with powerful claws and strong jaws, they can charge, knock down, or bite humans if they feel trapped.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Distinguished by a broad, hairy muzzle, long pointed ears, and soft grey-brown fur.
- What to do
- Never attempt to block a burrow entrance or corner a wombat; back away slowly to give them a clear escape route.
- What to notice
- Look for large, multi-entrance burrow complexes in semiarid mallee and shrubland habitats.
- Support conservation
- Report any individuals showing signs of hair loss to local wildlife authorities, and never disturb active warrens.
Responsible observation
- Watch from afar: Observe these marsupials quietly at dusk when they emerge from their burrows to feed.
- Respect warrens: Avoid walking directly on their extensive burrow systems, which can collapse under heavy weight.
- Drive carefully: Slow down on rural roads in mallee regions at night to prevent vehicle collisions.
Frequent Companion (c) dhfischer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by dhfischer · cc-by
Close Relative 
Close Relative "Common Wombat" by JJ Harrison is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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