Dingo
| Dingo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kakadu National Park NT | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | C. familiaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758 | |
 | |
| Distribution of the dingo: dingoes south of the dingo fence (black line) may have a higher prevalence of hybridisation. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The dingo is a lineage of dog found in Australia. It is a medium-sized canine that possesses a lean, hardy body adapted for speed, agility, and stamina. 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.
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). The dingo is closely related to the New Guinea singing dog: their lineage split early from the lineage that led to today's domestic dogs, and can be traced back through Maritime Southeast Asia to Asia. The oldest remains of dingoes discovered in Australia are around 3,500 years old.
A dingo pack usually consists of a mated pair, their offspring from the current year, and sometimes offspring from the previous year.