Dropping Some Important Wombat Knowledge

This Australian marsupial has a very unique trait.

Howdy! Joey here, back for more Fun Fact Friyay. This time, we’re feeling a little backed up.

Photo by Michael Jerrard on Unsplash

Flat-nosed wombats poop in cubes so it doesn’t roll away, and they can mark their territory.

As the classic book reminds us, everyone poops. However, not everyone poops the same way. This also extends to flat-nosed wombats, a marsupial native to Australia.

This is perplexing because wombats have round anuses. Luckily, we have scientists who are dedicated to getting to the bottom of this mystery.

These plant-eating creatures have two grooves in their intestines that feature greater elasticity among the guts. The muscles and tissue within these guts have different levels of thickness and stiffness.

While other mammals have consistency in their intestinal muscles, the combo of the grooves and the varying stiffness causes a unique digestive process for these wombats.

Here’s a deeper dive into the research, and I love that there have been multiple studies on this topic.

I sincerely hope you’ve never had to use the bathroom on the side of a mountain or atop a rocky ledge. But perhaps you’ve accidentally kicked a stick or stone down the cliffside and watched it tumble far away.

Wombats climb up these surfaces to leave their droppings and mark their territory. If they were round, they’d likely fall down the mountain, and that’s no good for anyone. As cubes, they stay right where they initially fell.

I’ve been to Australia once, but it was before I knew this fact. Next time I visit, I’ll pay closer attention to the ground.