The oestrous cycle and basal body temperature in the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

Summary.An oestrous cycle length of 33 days (N = 4, range 32–34) was obtained for the common wombat from a number of parameters including vaginal smears, vaginal biopsies, changes in pouch morphology and behavioural observation. All but one of the successive periods of oestrus occurred during winter. Hourly measurements of body temperature by telemetry showed a rhythm typical of nocturnal species. Superimposed on this diurnal rhythm was another rhythm which could be correlated with the oestrous cycle.