One mark of distinction from all other marsupials is that the wombat has a single pair of upper and lower incisors, which never stop growing.

They may be found in a variety of habitats including rainforest, eucalyptus forest, woodland, alpine grassland, and coastal areas.

Common wombats have been described as ecological engineers,[21] as their burrow building results in soil turnover and aeration, which assists plant growth, and provides habitat for a range of invertebrate and vertebrate species.

[8] A wide range of other animals are known to make use of wombat burrows including reptiles, rodents, rabbits, echidnas, wallabies, birds and koalas.

Often nocturnal, the common wombat does come out during the day in cooler weather, such as in early morning or late afternoon.

[28] Common wombats are herbivorous,[29][30] subsisting on grass, snow tussocks, and other plant materials.

Wombats appear to mate side-ways[33] The gestation period is about 20–30 days, and the young remain in the pouch for five months.

Whilst bare-nosed wombats are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN,[2] they remain threatened largely due to anthropomorphic factors[34] including habitat reduction, roadkill[35] and sarcoptic mange.

[8] There was a significant increase in overall wombat counts throughout Tasmania between 1985 and 2019 although numbers decreased in the last 10 years of that period in the west Tamar area.