Our Canine Cousin: The Dingo

What is the dingo? Is he a direct descendant of the wolf or is he a wild dog which was once domesticated, then turned wild again? This puzzle is as frustrating as the proverbial chicken-and-egg progression.

Genetically, the dingo is homogeneous to the pale-footed Asian wolf (canis lupus pallipes), presumed still to exist in certain remote, mountainous regions of Asia. It is believed that he has altered very little from his prehistoric forebears, which were widely distributed throughout Africa.

It is believed further that he came to Australia in a semi-domesticated condition during the last phase of the Ice Age (15,000 B.C.), and that he was in the company of nomadic aborigines who had trekked across the Indonesian archipelago.

He wandered as far as New Guinea, where he developed into a smaller variety of dingo (which is called New Guinea singing dog because of its opera-like howling at sundown), but he did not make it to Tasmania or Kangaroo Island. It is interesting to note that the singing dog's diminished size may be the result of selective breeding.

What Do Dingo's Look Like & How Do They Live?

The average dingo is about 24 inches high, which is somewhat smaller than the Asian wolf, but his legs are longer than the wolf's. Many other wolf-like characteristics distinguish him from the domesticated dog. For example, his massive skull and his heavy jaws, his powerful masticating muscles and his deadly, razor-sharp teeth all indicate that he has always had to hunt and kill for his living.Source:K-9 Subscribe to my feeds: http://feeds.feedburner.com/dogcents.blogspot.com Be sure to go and vote for me at http://bloginterviewer.com/animals/dogcents-ruth Vote Now.. IF you like my blog be sure to sign in the Friends connect Widget and Follow me here.