Which sense is considered relatively poor in wombats, compelling them to rely on other faculties for navigation and awareness?
Answer
Eyesight.
Wombats are primarily nocturnal and subterranean creatures, meaning their reliance on visual perception is diminished compared to terrestrial, diurnal animals. The text explicitly notes that wombats have relatively poor eyesight, which necessitates compensation through other heightened sensory organs. To successfully navigate their environment, locate preferred food sources, recognize conspecifics, and detect impending danger both above and below ground, they depend significantly more on their acute senses of smell (olfaction) and hearing (auditory perception).
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