The secret sex lives of wombats have been relatively unknown until now, with Queensland researchers revealing bum biting is a common behaviour of females in heat.

Female southern hairy-nosed wombats give love bites, urinate less and run around more often during their oestrous cycle, according to a study which delved into the private lives of the near-threatened species in an attempt to bolster breeding programs in captive populations.

Taking urine samples could allow the stage in the oestrous cycle to be determined in captive animals non-invasively, researchers say. Credit:Ken Irwin.

There are three species of wombat; the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat, the vulnerable southern hairy-nosed wombat and the bare-nosed wombat, also known as the common wombat.

Southern hairy-nosed wombats live in five fragmented populations across southern Australia and in several zoos and wildlife parks across Australia.