Wombat's deadly bums: how they use their 'skull-crushing' rumps to fight, play and flirt

Research offers insights into marsupial's rearguard defences and 'brutal' mating rituals Australia is known for its strange and deadly wildlife, with plenty of attention given to venomous snakes and bird-eating spiders. But it seems one terrifying aspect of outback fauna has been thoroughly ignored: the wombat's deadly bum.The rump of the wombat is hard as rock, used for defence, burrowing, bonding, mating and possibly violently crushing the skulls of its enemies against the roof of its burrow. Although the jury is still out on that one. Continue reading...