# Dingo (*Canis familiaris dingo*)

> The dingo is a wild canid of Australia, descended from domestic dogs brought by humans thousands of years ago. Tan or ginger coat, erect ears, and a bushy tail distinguish most dingoes, which hunt kangaroos and rabbits across deserts, grasslands, and forests.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** Mainland Australia across most habitats except intensive farmland; absent from Tasmania. Also occurs in parts of Southeast Asia as a related lineage.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dingo/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Carnivora
- **Family:** Canidae
- **Genus:** Canis

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Canis familiaris dingo |
| Diet | Carnivore — kangaroos, rabbits, rodents, and carrion |
| Habitat | Most of mainland Australia except intensive farmland |
| Lifespan | 5–10 years in the wild |
| Weight | 13–20 kg (29–44 lb); males larger |
| Top speed | Up to 60 km/h (37 mph) in pursuit |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Origin and classification

Dingoes arrived in Australia at least 3,500 years ago with seafaring people. They are classified as Canis familiaris dingo — a feral or wild lineage of dog — rather than a separate wolf species. Pure dingoes rarely bark; they howl and whine.

## Ecological role

As apex predators, dingoes regulate kangaroo and introduced pest numbers. Some ecologists argue dingo presence reduces mesopredator impacts on smaller native mammals. Hybridisation with domestic dogs threatens genetically pure dingo populations.

## Pack and breeding

Dingoes often hunt alone or in pairs but may form small packs when prey is abundant. Breeding is once yearly, with pups born in a den during winter in southern Australia. Both parents help feed the litter.

## Conservation and conflict

Pure dingoes are legally protected in some Australian states but persecuted near livestock areas. The IUCN lists ferals as Vulnerable due to hybridisation and control programmes. Debate continues over their status as native versus introduced.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a dingo a dog or a wolf?

Dingoes are classified as a wild type of domestic dog (Canis familiaris dingo), genetically distinct from modern pet breeds but descended from introduced dogs.

### Do dingoes bark?

Pure dingoes bark rarely compared to domestic dogs. They communicate mainly through howls and whines.

### Are dingoes dangerous to humans?

Attacks are rare but documented, especially where dingoes lose fear of people near campsites. Fraser Island dingoes are closely monitored for this reason.

### What do dingoes eat?

Kangaroos, wallabies, rabbits, rodents, birds, fruit, and carrion — a flexible carnivorous diet across the outback.

### Are dingoes endangered?

Genetically pure dingoes are increasingly rare due to interbreeding with domestic dogs. Conservation status is debated but listed Vulnerable in some assessments.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Canis familiaris dingo.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Canis%20familiaris%20dingo&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Canis familiaris dingo. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis_familiaris/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dingo/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.