Talk:Wombat

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[edit] Jargon File

Found another signification in the jargon file:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/W/WOMBAT.html

May be worth adding in the future...

[edit] Revert

I reverted because:

• We cannot write "the wombat" because we are talking about three different species.
• The changed link points to an article with a good deal less information relevant to the topic (extinction of Australian megafauna) than the previous link.
• "Probably" is more accurate than the weasel-worded "may have". We are not talking about a faint possibility here.
• "Dingo" is always capitalised. However, the vast majority of wombats today will never see a Dingo as they occupy areas inside the Dog Fence where Dingos are scarce. Dogs, on the other hand, are distressingly common.

Tannin 22:09, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Capital Letter In Dingo

Why is Dingo always capitalized? ~SJW

The assertion that dingo is always capitalised is mistaken. Fawcett5 03:54, 19 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I've never heard of that before either. Dora Nichov 01:52, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

It is a standard for the common name of species. see WP:BIRD for the meat of why. - UtherSRG (talk) 04:41, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] broken links

I've removed this link [1] as broken. -- Danny Yee 09:24, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] party girl?

An anonymous contributor added: "Also used as a pseudonym for an online party-girl."

Pseudonym is not the right word here, but can someone confirm that something like "The term "wombat" is also used to refer to online party-girls." would be correct? Danny Yee 23:19, 25 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Muddle Headed Wombat

I added this comment because I noticed that the Muddle Headed Wombat page hasn't been written yet, though it was already referenced from the Australian Broadcasting Company page. I've never written a from-scratch Wiki page yet, so am slightly hesitant. Would any vombatiphile want to do it instead of me? If so, say here and I'll help with any info that I have, otherwise I'll try to do it myself. Kay Dekker 03:39, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

I've started a basic article at The Muddle-Headed Wombat, feel free to expand it, I have never read any of the books so I don't know what to write about it.--nixie 10:37, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

Thank you! I'll start fleshing it out with details as I can. Kay Dekker 11:51, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Australian RSPCA advert

"the wombat's somewhat idyllic nature"

Idyllic? Chambers defines idyll(ic) as "1 a short poem or prose work describing a simple, pleasant, usually rural or pastoral scene. 2 a story, episode or scene suitable for such a work, eg one of happy innocence or love. 3 a work of this character in another art form, especially music. idyllic adj 1 relating to or typical of an idyll. 2 charming; picturesque."

I think that can't be what's meant. Perhaps "retiring"? Kay Dekker 10:13, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

Retiring would probably be a better adjective.--nixie 10:22, 18 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Barbara Triggs books

I've added bibliographic data for her book "Wombats", and I wonder if it's actually a first edition of the other-mentioned Triggs book? Kay Dekker 12:00, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

• grin* Answered my own question! No, it isn't. "Wombats" is a kids' book; the other is for adult readers.

[edit] Aboriginal Tribes

I'm going to change 'Aboriginal tribes' to Aboriginal communities because that is generally considered to be the correct terminology

[edit] How big are they...

it would be good to get some stats on the size/weight of these creatures... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 219.88.179.132 (talk • contribs) .

The information you seek is already in the article. Read the whole article... - UtherSRG (talk) 11:58, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

A wombat is a marsupil.The tiny newborn grows in it's mother's pouch.The female's pouch faces backwards so that,when she digs a burrow,dirt does not get inside it.

[edit] Popular Culture Entries

Maybe showing my age, but when I used to play MUDs, wombats were usually the most common thing found in the newbie area, allowing a character armed only with a pointy stick to gain (albeit slowly) experience points. Just wondering if this should be mentioned under the references in culture section. Sabalon 12:21, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

Not sure about this, but on House M.D., hasn't Hṛouse called Dr Chase a wombat a few times?

This is not even remotely notable. -- Danny Yee 04:58, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wombats as pets?

Being European, wombats are a pretty exotic species to me. So I made a Google Image search to see how they look like and found quite a lot of pictures showing people holding wombats in the arms. Does this mean that (a) quite some Australians keep them as pets, or rather (b) they like to pick up wild wombats that just happen to live in their garden and pose for a photo with them? Simon A. 18:40, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

Firstly it is illegal to keep them as pets, you need a licence to keep these animals, and then mainly for rehabilitation purposes. Second like many wild animals these animals can run fast, and if you corner them the, those sharp front claws used for digging will be used to attack you, so in the wild I wouldnt touch them. Most likely they are photos of the animals in Zoos where they can be quiet tame. They like Kangaroos, Koalas etc can get use to humans handling. Enlil Ninlil 03:13, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Yeah. Wild ones can be fierce and extremely strong... Dora Nichov 14:04, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cubic Scats??

For real? Their anus actually produces BLOCKS of feces? I MUST see a picture of this.

http://www.pbase.com/gehyra/image/38902120 121.44.202.33 21:20, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Heads-up

Mentioned in Wired, landed on the front page of Google's "Wired Top Stories" widget. [2] Ronabop (talk) 03:50, 15 January 2008 (UTC)