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'''Wombats''' are stocky, tailless, ursiform [[marsupial]]s of the [[Linnaean taxonomy|Linnaean taxonomic]] family ''Vombatidae''. They are nocturnal, walk on four short legs, like to burrow, and are herbivorous.

'''Wombats''' are stocky, tailless, ursiform [[marsupial]]s of the [[Linnaean taxonomy|Linnaean taxonomic]] family ''Vombatidae''. They are nocturnal, walk on four short legs, like to burrow, and are herbivorous.

The common wombat (''Vombatus ursinus'') reaches about three feet in length and produces distinctive cubical scat<ref name="triggs">[http://dannyreviews.com/h/Wombat.html Review: ''The Wombat: Common Wombats in Australia'' by Barbara Triggs]</ref>. There are also two or three (depending on classification) rare species of hairy-nosed wombats of the genus ''Lasiorhinus''<ref>[http://www.wombania.com/wombats/hairy-nosed-wombat.htm Wombat Information Center: Hairy Nosed Wombat]</ref>.

The common wombat (''Vombatus ursinus'') reaches about three feet in length and produces distinctive cubical scat.<ref name="triggs">[http://dannyreviews.com/h/Wombat.html Review: ''The Wombat: Common Wombats in Australia'' by Barbara Triggs]</ref> There are also two or three (depending on classification) rare species of hairy-nosed wombats of the genus ''Lasiorhinus''.<ref>[http://www.wombania.com/wombats/hairy-nosed-wombat.htm Wombat Information Center: Hairy Nosed Wombat]</ref>

One of the distinctive features of wombats is that their pouch opens towards the rear of the animal, like the koala, marsupial mole, and the now-considered-extinct thylacine (tasmanian tiger), but unlike most other marsupials<ref>http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/factfiles/03.htm</ref>. This may be to avoid the problem of the pouch filling with dirt whilst the animal is burrowing.

One of the distinctive features of wombats is that their pouch opens towards the rear of the animal, like the koala, marsupial mole, and the now-considered-extinct thylacine (tasmanian tiger), but unlike most other marsupials.<ref>http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/factfiles/03.htm</ref>  This may be to avoid the problem of the pouch filling with dirt whilst the animal is burrowing.

==Origins==

==Origins==

===Creationary hypothesis===

===Creationary hypothesis===

According to [[creationists]], representatives of the separately created wombat [[baraminology|archaebaramin]] were among those animals that migrated from the [[Middle East]] to [[Australia]] as part of the [[Post-Diluvian Diasporas]]. There is debate whether this migration happened over land<ref name="ca1">[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c006.html "How did animals get from the Ark to isolated places, such as Australia?"], ChristianAnswers.net.</ref> -- as Australia was still for a time almost connected to Europe by land bridges similar to the one that connected Asia to America<ref>Batten, Don, et. al., 207, ''The Creation Answers Book'', [http://www.creationontheweb.com/images/pdfs/cabook/chapter17.pdf Chapter 17]</ref> -- or if they [[rafting (ecology) | rafted]] on mats of vegetation torn up by the receding flood waters.<ref name="ca1"/>

According to [[creationists]], representatives of the separately created wombat [[baraminology|archaebaramin]] were among those animals that migrated from the [[Middle East]] to [[Australia]] as part of the [[Post-Diluvian Diasporas]]. There is debate whether this migration happened over land<ref name="ca1">[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c006.html "How did animals get from the Ark to isolated places, such as Australia?"], ChristianAnswers.net.</ref>—as Australia was still for a time almost connected to Europe by land bridges similar to the one that connected Asia to America<ref>Batten, Don, et. al., 207, ''The Creation Answers Book'', [http://www.creationontheweb.com/images/pdfs/cabook/chapter17.pdf Chapter 17]</ref>—or if they [[rafting (ecology)|rafted]] on mats of vegetation torn up by the receding flood waters.<ref name="ca1"/>

Creationists suggest that the  rear-opening pouch provides strong evidence for the wombat's special creation.<ref>[http://www.icr.org/article/677/ "Watches and Wombats"], by Ken Ham, Institute for Creation Research</ref>.

Creationists suggest that the  rear-opening pouch provides strong evidence for the wombat's special creation.<ref>[http://www.icr.org/article/677/ "Watches and Wombats"], by Ken Ham, Institute for Creation Research</ref>

===Evolutionary hypothesis===

===Evolutionary hypothesis===

Modern wombats belong to the order Diprotodontia (meaning two front teeth). It is thought that the  common ancestors of wombats and [[kangaroo | kangaroos]] lived about 55-65 million years ago and that wombats are closely related to the [[koala]]<ref name="triggs"/>. This hypothesis is supported by [[mitochondria]]l genetic evidence as well as fossil evidence.<ref>Janke A et al. "Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and the mitochondrial genomes of the wombat, Vombatus ursinus, and the spiny anteater, Tachyglossus aculeatus: increased support for the Marsupionta hypothesis." (2002) Journal of molecular evolution 54:71-80. </ref>

Modern wombats belong to the order Diprotodontia (meaning two front teeth). It is thought that the  common ancestors of wombats and [[kangaroo]]s lived about 55-65 million years ago and that wombats are closely related to the [[koala]].<ref name="triggs"/> This hypothesis is supported by [[mitochondria]]l genetic evidence as well as fossil evidence.<ref>Janke A et al. "Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and the mitochondrial genomes of the wombat, Vombatus ursinus, and the spiny anteater, Tachyglossus aculeatus: increased support for the Marsupionta hypothesis." (2002) Journal of molecular evolution 54:71-80.</ref>

== References ==

== References ==