Dingo

Dingo(Canis lupus dingo)

Phylum —chordata
Class — mammalia
Order — carnivora
Family — canidae

Genus – canis

Appearance

As compared with domestic dogs, dingo has longer canines and longer, tapered muzzle. The body shape of this dog is quite lean and the tail is bushy. Dingo has also pricked ears, which help the animal to hear well. The color of their body usually ranges from sandy-yellow to red ginger, though some individuals can be white, black or black-tan. Dingoes have brown, almond-shaped eyes. In addition, these dogs can be identified by white markings on their chest, feet and tip of the tail.

It is about 120 cm (48 inches) long, including the 30-cm (12-inch) tail, and stands about 60 cm (24 inches) tall at the shoulder. Females are smaller than males in both height and weight; female adults weigh 11.8 to 19.4 kg (26 to about 43 pounds), while the largest males approach 20 kg (44 pounds).

Habitat

While being found in most of continental Australia, these dogs are absent from Tasmania. The area of their distribution also includes natural forests of southeastern Asia. They live in wide variety of habitats such as tropical forest wetlands of Northern Australia, deserts of Central Australia and Eastern Australia's snow-covered mountain forests.

Behavior

Generally, dingoes are sociable animals, gathering in packs to mate and socialize. However, some individuals prefer living solitary life. Dingo packs normally contain 3-12 animals, including dominant male and female, that are determined through fierce stand-offs. When gathering, these animals howl, scent mark and come into conflict with each other. They are most active at sunrise and sunset, when their prey is also active. These dogs are very territorial animals. They choose the territory not according to the size of their pack, but depending on characteristics of the environment such as prey availability or terrain texture. They don't tend to bark, but they are known to howl, especially at night, attracting their pack members or scaring away intruders.

Diet

They are carnivorous animals, consuming wide variety of food from water buffalo to insects. Dingoes are opportunistic feeders, hunting different species from mice to wallabies and kangaroos, from rats to rabbits, geese and lizards. They can also scavenge carcasses of dead animals. In addition, dingoes feed upon plants and fruit.

Reproduction

Dingoes are monogamous, mating for life. The dominant pair of the pack breeds in the group, where other members of the pack help them in bringing up their pups. The mating season of Australian dingoes lasts from March to April whereas in southeastern Asia they mate in August-September. The period of gestation lasts about 63 days, yielding 4-5 babies on average. The female gives birth in a den. After 3 weeks, the pups start venturing out of the den. At the age of 8 weeks, the young are fully weaned. By this time, they leave the den and start living with the pack. Then, between 3 and 4 months old, the pups begin to accompany adults during the hunt. And finally, at 3 years old, dingoes mate, staying together throughout their lives.

Dingoes in the wild live 3–5 years with few living past 7–8 years.

In captivity

Puppies are very easy to train, not whimsical in care and become loyal, affectionate guards. After all, if you take a small blind puppy, it takes you for parents. The dog does not need special care. In food, it is unpretentious, resistant to many diseases, and gets along well with other breeds of dogs.

If we draw an analogy with domesticated, tamed wolves, then the Australian dog dingo is a pet of one owner. If the owner changes, the dog will not survive, runs away, wither or die. The dingo attaches itself to its master with all its heart. But do not forget about the ancient strongest hunting instinct. It is unlikely that any shepherd  will risk leaving such a dog in the same pen with the sheep at night.