A morphometric study of the skulls of two species of wombats (Vombatus ursinus and Lasiorhinus latifrons).

Abstract

The skulls of the wombats, Lasiorhinus latifrons and Vombatus ursinus, were measured in order to compare the craniofacial morphology, including sexual dimorphism, in these two species. The skulls of V. ursinus tend to be bigger than that of L. latifrons. In both species measurements of males are greater than those of females. The difference between maxillary and mandibular inter-molar breadth was greater, and the skull length/zygomatic arch breadth ratio was smaller, in V. ursinus than in L. latifrons. It is proposed that the masseter muscles of V. ursinus are better developed than those of L. latifrons, and that the interspecific difference in skull form is influenced by environmental factors and diet.