Phylogenetic trends and speciation among wombats

Abstract

The original description of the common wombat was given by Geoffroy in 1803, who in the same year applied two different generic names to this marsupial. This has led to some degree of taxonomic confusion which is still evident in the current application of generic names. Two genera of Recent wombats, Vombatus Geoffroy and Lasiorhinus Gray, are recognized in this paper. Descriptions of them and of their better-defined species are provided. A third genus, Wombatula Iredale & Troughton, is not sustained. Of the fossil wombats of comparable size to Recent species, some are considered to be synonymous with Recent species, others are of uncertain specific designation. All are here regarded as belonging to one or other of the two Recent genera. Trends towards gigantism among fossil wombats are reconsidered because of the author's view that the upper incisors of Sceparnodon ramsayi belong to the family Diprotodontidae and ought to be removed from the giant wombat series, with the largest species of which they have previously been associated.