Солтүстік жұмсақ мұрынды вомбат

Species of marsupial

Speciesbox
| name = Northern hairy nosed wombat
| image = Haarnasenwombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii). jpg
| status = CR
| status system = IUCN3.1
| status ref =
| status2 = CR
| status2 system = EPBC
| status2 ref =

The northern hairy nosed wombat shares its genus with one other extant species, the southern hairy nosed wombat, while the common wombat is in the genus Vombatus. Both Lasiorhinus species differ morphologically from the common wombat by their silkier fur, broader hairy noses, and longer ears.

In general, all species of wombat are heavily built, with large heads and short, powerful legs. They have strong claws to dig their burrows, where they live much of the time. It usually takes about a day for an individual to dig a burrow. Northern hairy nosed wombats have bodies covered in soft, grey fur; the fur on their noses sets them apart from the common wombat. They have longer, more pointed ears and a much broader muzzle than the other two species. Individuals can be 35 cm high, up to 1 m long and weigh up to 40 kg. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being somewhat larger than males due to the presence of an extra layer of fat. They are slightly larger than the common wombat and able to breed somewhat faster (giving birth to two young every three years on average). The northern hairy nosed wombat's nose is very important in its survival because it has very poor eyesight, so it must detect its food in the dark through smell. Examination of the wombat's digestive tract shows that the elastic properties of the ends of their large intestines are capable of turning liquid excrement into cubical scat.

Northern hairy nosed wombats require deep sandy soils in which to dig their burrows, and a year round supply of grass, which is their primary food. These areas usually occur in open eucalypt woodlands.

The northern hairy nosed wombat is nocturnal, living underground in networks of burrows. They avoid coming above ground during harsh weather, as their burrows maintain a constant humidity and temperature. They have been known to share burrows with up to 10 individuals, equally divided by sex. Young are usually born during the wet season, between November and April. When rain is abundant, 50 80% of the females in the population will breed, giving birth to one offspring at a time. Juveniles stay in their mothers' pouches for 8 to 9 months, and are weaned at 12 months of age. The fat reserves and low metabolic rate of this species permit northern hairy nosed wombats to go without food for several days when food is scarce. Even when they do feed every day, it is only for 6 hours a day in the winter and 2 hours in the summer, significantly less than a similar sized kangaroo, which feeds for at least 18 hours a day. Their diet consists of native grasses: black speargrass (Heteropogon contortus), bottle washer grasses (Enneapogon spp. ), golden beard grass (Chrysopogon fallax), and three awned grass(Aristida spp. ), as well as various types of roots. The teeth continue to grow beyond the juvenile period, and are worn down by the abrasive grasses they eat. Its habitat has become infested with African buffel grass, a grass species introduced for cattle grazing. The grass outcompetes the more nutritional and native grasses on which the wombat prefers to feed by limiting its quantity, forcing the wombat to travel further to find the native grasses it prefers, and leading to a reduction in biomass.

Originally there were two main groups of hairy nosed wombats (the other being the Southern hairy nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons) that were separated by Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Both species experienced a population decline between 1870 and 1920, with the main influences being culling by agriculturalists, competition for food with introduced and feral species and predation. Threats to the northern hairy nosed wombat include small population size, predation, competition for food, disease, floods, droughts, wildfires, and habitat loss. Its small, highly localised population makes the species especially vulnerable to natural disasters. Wild dogs are the wombat's primary predator, but the spread of rabbits and the actions of landowners have also contributed to their decline. There have been two reports of male northern hairy nosed wombats contracting a fungal infection caused by Emmonsia parva, a soil saprophytic fungus. It is likely that the northern hairy nosed wombats are inhaling the infection from the soil.

To combat the vulnerability of this species, a number of conservation projects have been put into action in the 21st century. One example was the construction of a two metre high, predator proof fence around of the park in 2000. A second, insurance colony of this species of wombat was established at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge at Yarran Downs, near Thallon (a small town near St George) in southern Queensland in 2008. The reserve is surrounded by a predator proof fence. In 2006, researchers performed a study to analyse the demography of the northern hairy nosed wombat, by using double sided tape in the burrows to collect hair of the wombats. Through DNA analysis, they found that the ratio of female to male wombats was 1:2.25 in the population of approximately 113 wombats. These findings allowed researchers to understand the demographics of this species, and opened up further research to better understand why there is a significant difference in males and females in the wild. In addition, the species recovery plan of 2004 to 2008 included communication and community involvement in saving the species, and worked to increase the current population in the wild, established other populations within the wombat's historical range. There is also a volunteer caretaker program, that allows volunteers to contribute in monitoring the population and keeping the predator fence in good repair. In addition, DNA fingerprint identification of wombat hairs allows research to be conducted without an invasive trapping or radio tracking program. Studies have also been conducted to assess diet and nutrition.

Due to the combined efforts of these forces, the northern hairy nosed wombat population has been slowly making a comeback. In 2003, the total population consisted of 113 individuals, including only around 30 breeding females. In the last census taken in 2013, the estimated population was 196 individuals, with an additional 9 individuals at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge at Yarran Downs. In May 2021, researchers found that the population had increased to over 300 individuals.