A lean, hardy wild dog of Australia, ginger, black-and-tan or creamy white. Its lineage split early from the one that led to today’s domestic dogs; the oldest dingo remains in Australia are about 3,500 years old.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?Can be
Dingoes usually avoid people but are big enough to be dangerous; most attacks involve people feeding them.
Domesticated?No
Dingoes live wild, but whether they count as a form of domestic dog, a wolf subspecies or their own species is still debated.
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAustralia
HabitatGrassland, Desert, Forest, Scrub
ColoursGinger, Cream, Black
SizeMedium
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives inpacks
Lives for10–13 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Australia.
Did you know
Can rotate its wrists to open latches, and climbs fences.
A dingo can run at up to 60 km/h.
Often confused with
- Dog
Dingoes come from an early branch of the dog family tree, split off before today’s domestic breeds.
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