The common wombat—also called the bare-nosed wombat to distinguish it from the two other species of wombat, both of which have hairy-noses—is a large, stocky mammal found in open grasslands, mountains, and forests in Australia and nearby islands.

Wombats are marsupials, or animals whose babies are born early and continue to develop in a special pouch outside of the mother’s body. Unlike other marsupials such as kangaroos and koalas, the opening of a wombat’s pouch faces her rear rather than her head to prevent it filling with dirt when the mother is digging.

These solitary herbivores have surprisingly useful bottoms that help shield them from potential attackers. Wombats are particularly notable for their poop—they are the only animal known to