The dingo is a wild-living canine found across mainland Australia, believed to descend from domestic dogs brought to the continent by seafaring people several thousand years ago and to have since reverted to a largely wild existence, distinct in behavior and ecology from other dog populations. It typically has a lean, athletic build and a coat most often a sandy yellow to reddish color, though other colorations occur, and it is Australia's largest land predator, playing an important ecological role in regulating populations of smaller native and introduced animals. Dingoes are opportunistic hunters and scavengers, feeding on a range of prey from small mammals to larger animals such as kangaroos, sometimes hunting cooperatively in small packs. Hybridization with domestic dogs and control programs targeting livestock predation have raised concerns about the genetic integrity and conservation status of wild dingo populations in parts of Australia.
Facts
Classification
DietDetritivore or Scavenger 1 System (Realm) Living or Extinct Conservation Status Disputed
Scientific NameTaxonomic status contested: variously Canis familiaris, Canis lupus familiaris, Canis familiaris dingo, Canis lupus dingo, or Canis dingo 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMedium-sized canine with a lean body; three main coat colors (light ginger/tan, black and tan, or creamy white) and a wedge-shaped skull that appears large relative to the body. 1 Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Dingo (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Wikidata: Dingo
Additional Source Great Victoria Desert (Wikipedia)Article text
Source Wikidata: Dingo
Additional Source Simpson Desert (Wikipedia)Article text
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Dingo (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Dingo, Taxonomy section
Its taxonomic classification is debated: it is variously considered a form of domestic dog (Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris) not warranting recognition as a subspecies, or a subspecies of dog (Canis familiaris dingo) or wolf (Canis lupus dingo), or a full species in its own right (Canis dingo).
Wikipedia: Dingo, Description section
Its three main coat colourations are light ginger or tan, black and tan, or creamy white. The skull is wedge-shaped and appears large in proportion to the body.
article text (conservation status), EntityId 279186
The current population of dingoes is unknown, with the IUCN red list listing it as "Not Evaluated".
In Biome: Desert, Hybrids, distribution and habitat
The dingo's present distribution covers a variety of habitats, including the temperate regions of eastern Australia, the alpine moorlands of the eastern highlands, the arid hot deserts of Central Australia, and the tropical forests and wetlands of Northern Australia.
In Biome: Wetlands, Hybrids, distribution and habitat
The dingo's present distribution covers a variety of habitats, including the temperate regions of eastern Australia, the alpine moorlands of the eastern highlands, the arid hot deserts of Central Australia, and the tropical forests and wetlands of Northern Australia.
View the Source 2. Dingo (Wikipedia)
Wikidata: Dingo
Catalogue of Life
Simpson Desert (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIn Ecosystem: Simpson Desert, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Simpson Desert, Article text
Endemic mammals of the desert include the red kangaroo, dingo, echidna and kowari (Dasycercus byrnei), while birds include the grey grasswren (Amytornis barbatus) and Eyrean grasswren (Amytornis goyderi).
Great Victoria Desert (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIn Ecosystem: Great Victoria Desert, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Great Victoria Desert, Article text
Predators of the desert include the dingo (as the desert is north of the Dingo Fence) and two large monitor lizards, the perentie (Varanus giganteus) and the sand goanna (Varanus gouldii).
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