Growth and development of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons (Vombatidae)

Abstract

There are few published studies on breeding and reproduction in hairy-nosed wombats and little information available on growth and development of pouch young. At a field site near Swan Reach in the Murraylands of South Australia morphometric measurements of 353 young southern hairy-nosed wombats and notes on their development were recorded. These data were combined with growth data collected from repeat measures of 10 mother-reared and 5 hand-reared joeys in order to establish information for aging young of this species and to plot developmental changes. Young weighed ~0.4 g at birth and had a head length (HL) of ~5.2 mm. Head length was the most accurate body parameter from which to assess age. Growth of pouch young was linear between birth and ~Day 310 with head length growing at ~0.4 mm HL per day. After Day 300 growth slowed, represented by a polynomial equation. Eyes were open at 5 months and pouch young started to develop fur at 5–6 months of age. Most young were permanently out of pouch at 9 months of age, and were weaned between 11 and 13 months, when they weighed 6–7 kg. Young remained in the burrow for 1–2 months following pouch exit before venturing above ground at night.