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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 55(5)

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

David A. Taggart A B C I , Graeme R. Finlayson B , Glenn Shimmin D , Clare Gover E , Ron Dibben F , Craig R. White B , Vernon Steele G and Peter D. Temple-Smith H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

B School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005. Australia.

C Department of Anatomical Science, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

D Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.

E Australia Zoo, Beerwah, Qld 4519, Australia.

F 6 Marsh Avenue, Gawler, SA 5118, Australia.

G Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia

H Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

I Corresponding author. Email: david.taggart@adelaide.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 55(5) 309-316 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO07056
Submitted: 21 October 2004  Accepted: 19 December 2007   Published: 8 February 2007

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.


Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs Ingrid Dibben, Mr Jason Dibben and Mr Bill Dibben for the smooth running of the field station, and assistance with animal capture and handling. We also thank Mr and Mrs J. McAuley for granting us access to Kooloola Station and for providing shearing shed facilities to support the field program. We thank Brookfield Zoo for access to breeding records of southern hairy-nosed wombats.


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