Wombats are estimate to have diverged from other Australian marsupials relatively early.
While some theories place wombats as miniaturised relatives of diprotodonts, such as the Diprotodon.
Wombats dig extensive burrow systems with their rodent-like front teeth and powerful claws.
Wombats are herbivores; their diets consist mostly of grasses, sedges, herbs, bark, and roots.
Wombats generally move slowly. When threatened, however, they can reach up to 40 km/h.
Wombats defend home territories centred on their burrows, and they react aggressively to intruders.
The common wombat occupies a range of up to 23 ha, while the hairy-nosed species uses less.
Wombats are generally quiet animals. Bare-nosed wombats can make a number of different sounds.