For those of us accustomed to domesticated dog breeds, it can be hard to imagine dogs as wild. But they exist, and there are even several different varieties. With so many different species of dingo, here are facts about the most common, well-known or wide-ranging dingoes, as well as facts about large, small, and rare dingoes. Read on to learn more about the different types of wild dogs from around the world.
Bush Dog
The jungle dog is a small Central and South American wild dog breed related to the maned wolf and the African wild dog. It is also the only living species in the genus Speothos. It has long, soft tan fur with reddish highlights, a bushy tail and a dark underside, short legs, a short snout, and small ears. Like the dhole and African wild dog, its carnivorous diet has a unique formula of teeth that includes all large rodents such as capybara, agouti and pacas. It cannot be bred with other canines to produce fertile hybrids. The three recognized subspecies are the South American bush dog, the Panamanian bush dog, and the southern bush dog. It is one of the most dangerous wild dogs, although it is rare today.
Dingo
The dingo is an ancient dog breed native to Australia, introduced to the country by seamen about 4,500 years ago. Although its scientific name is Canis lupus dingo, its taxonomic classification varies by taxonomy. There is no consensus as to whether it is a wolf, a primitive dog, the missing link between a wolf and a domestic dog, half wolf half dog, or a different species. There is also debate as to whether it is the true ancestor of the modern domestic dog. However, genetic testing revealed that he was related to the New Guinea Highland Dingo and the New Guinea Singing Dog, and his bloodline was very early different from that of the modern domestic dog.
The coat color of this medium-sized dog is cream, black and tan or tan with a large wedge-shaped head. 80% of its diet consists of wombats, mice, rabbits, possums, kangaroos, wallabies, geese and cows. For native Australians, the wild dog is used as a camping dog, live thermos and hunting aid, its scalp is used for currency, its fur is used for traditional clothing and its teeth are used for decoration. Today, it is considered a pest by livestock breeders and one of the most dangerous wild dogs. Shiba Inu is similar to wild dog, but Shiba Inu has been fully domesticated while wild dog is not.
African Wild Dog
African wild dogs are one of the most endangered mammals in the world and can be identified by their long legs and irregular fur patterns.
Its scientific name (Lycaon pictus) is also known as African hound, cape hound or painted dog, meaning “painted wolf”. It refers to its mottled coat pattern. Native to the grasslands, forests and deserts of sub-Saharan Africa, this canid is the only living member of the genus Tarantula. African wild dogs are the most efficient hunters of all large carnivores, with a success rate of over 80%. Unlike the more common Canis genus, it has highly specialized teeth for a hypercarnivorous diet and no dewclaws. It is the largest wild dog breed in Africa and the second largest in the world. In terms of prey, it targets several African ruminants, warthogs, rabbits, stick rats and insects. Although rare today, it is one of the most dangerous wild dogs.
Maned Wolf
Another South American wild dog breed, the maned wolf, despite its name, is not actually a wolf, although its coloration is not a fox, so it is unique. It is the only species in the genus Goldfish, which means “golden dog”. It is also the largest species in South America and the tallest in the world. Externally, it has a reddish body, a feathered tail, and long, thin black legs. Like some other wild canids, it is twilight, but its diet is omnivorous rather than carnivorous, eating small and medium animals as well as fruit, sugar cane and tubers. It lives in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands. The name “maned wolf” refers to the mane on its nape. “Skunk Wolf” is its nickname, referring to the strong smell of its territory markings. It’s rare now.
Red Wolf
Native to the southeastern United States, the red wolf is a close relative of the eastern wolf. Physically, it is a cross between a gray wolf and a coyote, and there is no consensus on its taxonomic classification. Its original habitat distribution included the southern and northern U.S., and it was nearly extinct due to hybridization with coyotes, habitat loss, and predator control programs. It’s rare now. Wild canines were important figures in the spiritual beliefs of the pre-colonial Cherokees, who avoided killing them so as not to anger their fellows.
Grey Wolf
Gray wolf is a typical species of wolf, there are more than 30 subspecies. It is native to North America and Eurasia. The largest canids in the canid family are known for their group cooperation when hunting large game, and the nuclear family group structure, led by alpha males and alpha females, is the ancestor of the domestic dog. It is related to the golden jackal and coyote, and can cross to produce fertile hybrids, such as the wolf wolf. In contrast, the Mexican wolf is a small species.
Arctic Fox
Also known as the snow fox, arctic fox or arctic fox, this wild canid originated in the arctic region, making its home in the tundra and living in underground burrows. Arctic foxes are very cute and delicate. However, it’s good enough to withstand some of the coldest temperatures. The thick, shaggy fur, large fluffy tail and rounded body provide warmth and prevent loss of body heat, while its white color provides camouflage. Its diet is primarily carnivorous, with canids feeding on waterfowl, seabirds, fish, ringed seal pups, voles and lemmings as well as carrion, insects and other small invertebrates, algae and berries.
Red Fox
The red fox is one of the natural enemies of the arctic fox and the largest of the real foxes, with a total of 12 species, while the Bengal fox and the fennec fox are smaller. Like other fox species, it lives in subterranean burrows, has whiskers on its face and legs, and does not chew its food, but tears it into small pieces. Canine-like features, bushy tails and a high-pitched, high-pitched courtship call make it the most recognizable fox. Nocturnal canine whose main prey is small rodents, which it captures by high jumping. It is a common target for pest control, grooming and sports, and its tail is clipped and used as a trophy known as a “brush”.
Jackal
The term “jackal” refers to one of three subspecies: the golden or common jackal in southern Asia and central Europe, and the black- or silver-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal in sub-Saharan Africa. The golden jackal lives in dry grasslands, deserts and open savannas, the black-backed jackal lives in forests and savannas, and the side-striped jackal lives in mountains, bushes, swamps and savannas. Jackals are related to coyotes. It can travel at 9.9 miles per hour.
It is a nocturnal predator and an opportunistic omnivore that eats small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, carrion, insects, fruits and plants. Each jackal family has its own unique bark, and the side-striped jackal is capable of hooting like an owl. Like coyotes and foxes, this canine is not only an opportunistic carnivore, but is considered cunning and magical in myth and legend. It is also present in superstitions about death and evil spirits. As a literary tool, the jackal symbolizes abandonment, loneliness and desolation.
Coyote
Coyotes are canines native to North America. It is smaller than its wolf, eastern wolf and red wolf relatives and larger than the golden jackal. Although more predatory than the golden jackal, their ecological niches are very similar. There are 19 recognized coyote subspecies. Its diet is primarily carnivorous and includes invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, rodents, hares, rabbits, and deer, and occasionally fruits and vegetables.
Although the gray wolf is one of its threats, it sometimes mates with the eastern wolf, red wolf or gray wolf to produce the jackal. It is also sometimes bred with dogs to produce coydogs. The name “coyote” comes from an Aboriginal word meaning “barking dog”, which is pronounced like a dog but has about 12 different barks. It is fast, capable of running at 40 miles per hour, and is an excellent swimmer.
Not only does she live in the wild, but she has also adapted to cities and suburbs. Like the fox, it is a pest but also helps control rodent pests. Like the wolf, it behaves like living in a cave. It hunts small game alone, or large game in packs, walks on tiptoe, and sometimes hunts with badgers, which are good diggers for the coyote’s keen hearing. In Native American folklore, it was a liar. Newfoundland snowwolves are rare.
Wild Dogs Facts
- Wild dogs are the second most dangerous predator after big cats.
- The Honshu wolf is the smallest wild dog in the world, but has been extinct since 1905 due to diseases such as rabies.
- New Guinea singing dogs exist only in captivity.
- Wild dogs are nomadic and this lifestyle not only affects their critical status, but also means they cannot be kept comfortably in any wildlife sanctuary.
- They make strange noises, grin and bow to each other.
- They hunt by tearing apart the prey as a whole.
- They usually come in groups of 2 to 10, but can grow to 40 or more.
- They can run at speeds of up to 70 km/h.
The different types of wild dogs are generally divided into dogs, coyotes, foxes, wolves, jackals, dingoes and other canids. Each subspecies usually has several subspecies, differentiated by climate and geography. Some look quite primitive, while others look very much like our modern pet and working dogs. Still, they can never be fully domesticated.
