Dingo facts: is a dingo a dog? | Animal Fact Files

Is a dingo a dog or not? There is a lot of debate over this question. Currently, dingoes are either classified as a subspecies of the grey wolf or as their own species in the Canis genus. It can be said with certainty that dingoes are definitely canids, but whether or not they are "dogs" is currently undecided - though we like to think they should be considered their own species and thus not called "dogs" (for conservation purposes). Dingo fossils in Australia date back to 3,500 years ago and it's unknown how they got there. Some speculate they traveled overseas with humans, which could suggest a pseudo domestication. Currently, because dingoes can breed with domestic dogs, there aren't many individuals alive today without dog DNA.

Scientific Name: Canis lupus dingo (Canis dingo also considered)
Range: Mainland Australia and Southeast Asia
Size: 2 feet (61cm) tall at the shoulder and up to 40 pounds (18kg) in weight
Diet: Kangaroos, wallabies, and other mammals (including invasives), fish, will also scavenge
Lifespan: 18+ years