Awoo (Enclosure) by TheBootesArtVoid on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

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Species Name: Dingo

Species Latin Name: Canis Familiaris

Alternate Latin Names: Canis Familiaris Dingo, Canis Dingo, and Canis Lupus Dingo

Native To: Australia

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Photo Taken At: Ballarat wildlife sanctuary

length: 117 - 154cm (46.1 – 60.6 inches)

Height: 52 - 60cm (20.5 – 23.6)

Weight: 10 - 20kg (22.1 – 44.1 pounds)

Top Speed: 48km/h (29.8 m/ph)

Lifespan: 3 - 15 years

Diet: Carnivore, scavenger

Lifestyle: Terrestrial, altricial, pack hunters, cursorial, apex predator, pursuit predator, territorial, viviparous, burrowing, nomadic

Group Name: Pack

Female Name: Bitch

Male Name: Dog

Baby Name: Pup

Mating Behaviour: Monogamy

Reproduction Season: March – April in Australia, August – September in Southeast Asia

Pregnancy Duration: 63 days

Births Per Pregnancy: 4 – 5 pups

Independent Age: 8 weeks

Description:

The Australian Dingo is a medium sized canid, they have lean slender bodies built for stamina, speed, and agility. Their heads are the widest parts of their bodies and they are relatively flexible, this means anything they can fit their head through they can fit the rest of their bodies. They differ from most other canid species who generally have their shoulders being wider than their heads. Dingoes rarely carry excess fat in their bodies and specimens in the wild tend to display exposed ribs. Dingoes in captivity are also very thin and lean however, they tend to have longer and heavier bodies than their truly wild counterparts due to better access to food and veterinary care.

When compared to the average dog the Dingo has a longer muzzle, longer carnassial teeth, and longer more slender canine teeth. Dingoes also have a larger brain size compared to dogs that are of the same body weight. These animals are also unusually flexible throughout their entire bodies including their joints, neck, head, and ears. They are able to turn their heads 180 degrees to see directly behind them, they are also able to turn their ears 180 degrees to listen to sounds directly behind them. Dingoes have an exceptionally sharp sense of hearing, smell, and sight.

The Australian Dingo has three main different variants that come to the coat of their fur. The colours can vary from being light ginger (or tan), black and tan, and creamy white. Though the majority of Dingoes are seen to be in the ginger colour which can vary from a deep rust colouration to a creamy pale cream colouration. Small white markings are often noted on the Dingo on the tip of their tails, feet, and chest. The variety of Dingo that has black and tan fur will feature a black coat with a tan muzzle, chest, belly, legs, and feet. These animals are known to have either a single or double coat of fur depending on the area they are situated in.

Diet:

Dingoes are predominantly opportunistic carnivores and the majority of their diet consists mostly of mammals. They will mostly eat rabbits, kangaroos, wallabies as well as wombats. It is known that these animals will also eat smaller animals such as birds, reptiles, insects, fish, crabs, and frogs. These animals will also occasionally eat plant matter as well. The percentage of what these predators will consume vary depending on their location and what they readily have access to

As an apex predator the Australian Dingo likely has an important role of controlling the populations of other animals such as kangaroos and especially rabbits. Furthermore it appears that Dingoes are far less damaging to the ecosystem around them compared to the introduced fox or the feral cat.

Behaviour:

Dingoes tend to be nocturnal in warmer regions and less so in cooler regions, the most active parts of the day for them tend to be during dawn and dusk for less than an hour with short rests. These animals tend to either be in a state of searching or exploration when it comes to movement.

Although Dingoes tend to be prefer to communicate with vocalizations they rarely if ever bark, instead they prefer to generate a variety of different howls. These howls can differ from long and persistent, rising and ebbing, and short and abrupt howls. Generally if a Dingo is to bark it is almost exclusively as a warning. Growling also makes up a significant amount of their vocalizations outside of howling and is generally either used defensively or as a means to assert dominance over others in the pack. Like other canine species scent also plays a larger role when it comes to communication, especially during mating season where the males will mark their scent more frequently than normal.

The young males are often solitary and nomadic in nature until they find a mate to settle down with and form a pack. Dingoes are monogamous and will mate for life, in packs only the dominant pair will mate whilst the other pack members will assist with raising the cubs. These animals tend to be more individualistic compared to other canine species but will work together in their packs to take down larger prey such as kangaroos. Dingoes will generally stick in their packs if they have one and remain in their designated territory and will not generally migrate unless forced to due to a lack of food or water.

The female becomes sexually active after 2 years of being born and mating will generally commence around around the months of March and May. The dominant female will actively prevent the subordinate females from breeding. Once pregnant the female will give birth to a litter of 4-5 pups after a pregnancy period of roughly 63 days. The pups become independent after a period of 8 weeks.

Threats:

Being the apex predator this animal doesn't come under threat of predation often with exception to the young pups who may be vulnerable to be targeted by snakes and predatory birds such as eagles. Dingoes are more vulnerable to be killed when hunting large animals such as water buffalo or cattle who have the potential to kick, crush, or rush and gore the dingoes.

As the dingo is an apex predator it also does not face much competition in the wild. The dingo can face potential competition from the introduced foxes and feral cats. Dingoes are able to easily drive away foxes and they will occasionally feed of feral cats as well. It is believed that the Australian Dingo played a part in driving the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) to extinction by out competing the species for food and resources.

One of the more significant threats against the Australian Dingo is interbreeding with introduced dog species which dilutes the purity of he dingo line. This is an issue as the Australian Dingo has evolved and adapted over thousands of years specifically to the harsh Australian landscape.

The existence of the dingo has become a political issue of sorts and has experienced many negative connotations similar to the wolves throughout the American and European continents. Bounties, traps, and poisons have been implemented to eradicate the dingo population as much as possible out of fears that the dingo may harm livestock, pets or people. Furthermore whilst the dingo is a protected species some local councils are unable or unwilling to distinguish the wild dingo from mixed breeds or feral dogs. Some sentiments have been pushed so far as to liken the dingo as an invasive pest species that needs to be eradicated entirely.

Conservation:

Despite the negative connotations this species may have the Australian Dingo is still a protected species and as such there are a variety of sanctuaries and breeding programs set up to maintain and stabilize the animals numbers.

Research has been done thoroughly on the Dingo bloodline, this is to ensure that the Dingoes kept in captivity are as closely related to the wild Dingo from thousands of years ago as possible. Further research is made regarding the behaviour of the Dingo so that a better understanding can be made regarding how the Dingo can impact the ecosystem where the animal is present or absent.

Some of these sanctuaries and research centers go through thorough efforts to educate local governing bodies in an effort to clear up myths and misconceptions about the Dingo. Whilst the Dingo is an apex predator in Australia it appears that a lot of the fear/hatred around the animal may be misplaced or overblown. Advocacy and education efforts have been somewhat successful with some local areas agreeing to allow wild Dingoes to be re-introduced to certain areas they were once driven out of.

The future of the Australian Dingo is still uncertain at this stage. Whilst there is hope that with the various research and conservation efforts the pure blooded Dingo may remain, it is uncertain if over time interbreeding with domestic dogs may result in the Dingo from thousands of years ago no longer being found in the wild. Furthermore it is uncertain if the current levels of advocacy and education for the Australian Dingo will be sufficient to counter the negative connotations it has received.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: Dingo - Wikipedia

Wildlife: Dingoes (wildlife.vic.gov.au)

Kidadl: Paw-fect Australian Dingo Dog Facts That Kids Will Love (kidadl.com)

Animalia: Dingo - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

Australian Museum: Dingo - The Australian Museum

Britannica: dingo | Diet, Habitat, & Facts | Britannica

Further Reading (Conservation):

Dingo Foundation: Australian Dingo Foundation – ADF's focus is on research, education and protection for Australia's native apex land predator, Canis dingo.

Dingo Sanctuary Bargo: About Dingoes - Dingo Sanctuary Bargo