What characteristic of the Common Wombat's nose distinguishes it from the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat?
Answer
The Common Wombat has a relatively smooth, hairless patch of skin on its nose.
The Common Wombat, also identified as the Bare-nosed Wombat (*Vombatus ursinus*), is physically differentiated from its hairy-nosed counterpart primarily by the skin covering its muzzle area. This species is characterized by having a distinctly smooth and hairless patch located on its nose. This contrasts sharply with the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat (*Lasiorhinus latifrons*), whose entire muzzle, including the rhinarium, is covered in hair. This distinction in pelage coverage is linked to habitat differences, with the bare-nosed species typically inhabiting wetter, forested areas, while the hairy-nosed species is found in drier, more arid regions.
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