Dingo classified as a distinct species

The dingo has been classified as a distinct Australian wild candid, or member of the dog family, separate from dogs and wolves.

A research team, led by Dr Matthew Crowther from the University of Sydney, sourced pure-bred dingo specimens pre-dating 1900, examining 69 skull specimens and six skin specimens to create a standard reference for the dingo.

They found that the physical features that identify dingoes were their relatively broad head with a long snout, erect ears and bushy tail. The dingo’s iconic tan coat colour, however, is not a defining characteristic of the species.

Confusion over whether the dingo was a distinct species stemmed from its early scientific classification during colonisation. The study has resurrected the species name Canis dingo, first published by German naturalist Friedrich Meyer in 1793.