This family of two Recent genera and three species is known from eastern and southern Australia, Tasmania, and islands of Bass Strait. The name Phascolomyidae has sometimes been used for this family.
Wombats resemble small bears in general appearance.
The muzzle is naked and the pelage is coarse in Vombatus, but in Lasiorhinus the muzzle is haired and the pelage is soft. Underfur is almost lacking. The eyes are small. The limbs are short, equal in length or nearly so, and extremely strong. There are five digits on all the limbs, and all have claws except the first toe, which is vestigial.