New Guinea Singing Dog

Canis lupus dingo

New Guinea Singing Dog

“ Those who wish to sing will always find a song. / De som vill sjunga hittar alltid en sång. ”

– Swedish proverb

Scientific Taxonomy & Character Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Clade: Synapsida

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Canis

Species: Canis lupus

Subspecies: Canis lupus hallstromi

Descendant: wolf

Named by: Ellis Le Geyt Troughton

Year Published: 1957

Size: Shoulder height is 31–46 centimetres (12–18 in) and weigh 9–14 kilograms (20–31 lb)

Lifespan: 3 to 18+ years

Type: 

Title: 

Pantheon: 

Time Period: Pleistocene - Holocene

Alignment: Neutral

Diet: Omnivorous

Elements: Rock, sound, dark

Inflicts: Rockblight, darkblight, soundblight, gnashed

Weaknesses: Rock, metal, stunned, poison, fae

Casualties: 

Based On: itself

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN Red List / Threatened (IUCN Red List & ESA of 1973)

The New Guinea singing dog or New Guinea Highland dog (Canis lupus hallstromi) is an ancient (basal) lineage of dog found in the New Guinea Highlands, on the island of New Guinea. Once considered to be a separate species in its own right, under the name Canis hallstromi, it is closely related to the Australian dingo. 

Etymology

This particular species of wolf has a special singing talent, therefore the name.

Physical Appearance

Same body, appearance, diet, and the behavior of a dingo but have a unique ability to sing, hence this name. Compared with other forms of dog, the New Guinea singing dog is described as relatively short-legged and broad-headed. These dogs have an average shoulder height of 31–46 cm (12–18 in) and weigh 9–14 kg (20–31 lb). They do not have rear dewclaws. The limbs and spine of the New Guinea singing dog are very flexible and they can spread their legs sideways to 90°, comparable to the Norwegian Lundehund.


They can also rotate their front and hind paws more than domestic dogs, which enables them to climb trees with thick bark or branches that can be reached from the ground; however, their climbing skills do not reach the same level as those of the gray fox, and are closely related to those of a cat.


The eyes, which are highly reflective, are triangular (or almond-shaped) and are angled upwards from the inner to outer corners with dark eye rims. Eye color ranges from dark amber to dark-brown. Their eyes exhibit a bright green glow when lights are shone on them in low light conditions. There are two features which researchers believe allow New Guinea singing dogs to see more clearly in low light. Pups are born with a dark chocolate brown pelt with gold flecks and reddish tinges, which changes to light brown by the age of six weeks. Adult coloration occurs around four months of age. For adult dogs, the colors brown, black, and tan have been reported, all with white points. The sides of the neck and zonal stripes behind the scapula are golden. Black and very dark guard hair is generally lightly allocated over the hair of the spine, concentrating on the back of the ears and the surface of the tail over the white tip. The muzzle is always black on young dogs. Generally, all colors have white markings underneath the chin, on the paws, chest and tail tip. About one third also have white markings on the muzzle, face and neck. By 7 years of age, the black muzzle begins to turn gray.

Abilities

The auto-erotic stimulation that New Guinea singing dogs exhibit is also remarkable. This stimulation includes a significant propensity to bite the genitalia in both fun and hostile ways, a cheek-rub that may be a marking action, and a threat to gnash teeth. The howls of New Guinea singing dogs are known for being distinctive and melodious, with a fast rise in pitch at the beginning and very high frequencies at the finish.


These canines' howls may easily be distinguished from Australian dingo howls, and they sound very different from the howls of grey wolves and coyotes. Dogs from New Guinea that sing may imitate other canines.

Ecology

Since only single dogs or couples have ever been seen in the wild, it can be assumed that, unlike their relative, the gray wolf, wild New Guinea singing dogs do not form stable groups. Wild dogs in New Guinea that resembled New Guinea singing dogs—whether they were hybrids or purebreds—ate tiny to medium-sized marsupials, rodents, birds, and fruits. In New Guinea, according to biologist Robert Bino, its prey included cuscuses, wallabies, dwarf cassowaries, and other birds.

Behavior

Although dingoes and singing dogs are large enough to be harmful, they often avoid conflict with people. The majority of attacks involve feeding wild canines that sing. In New Guinea, singing dogs are assaulting a variety of animals, including people and other fantastical beings.

Distribution and Habitat

Few singing dogs, once common throughout New Guinea, are thought to still exist in the wild today. They reside in highlands that are heavily vegetated with moss and are wet. If the New Guinea singing dog is a real wild dog, it is in risk of extinction.


Tamed

While they can be domesticated, the New Guinea Singing Dog is not recommended as a pet for most people. They require firm leadership and exhibit wild dog tendencies such as an extreme hunting drive and a desire to roam and explore. They are rare in New Guinea but can be found in zoos across the world.

Lore

Scientists have estimated that only 200 to 300 New Guinea singing dogs currently exist in captivity in zoos and protective centers. Observations of the highland wild dog are also rare in New Guinea.


There had been reports of highland wild dogs living in an area in Papua New Guinea in 2009, the study noted. But there were only two known cases of highland wild dogs being seen and photographed up until 2016.

Known Individuals

Gallery

2021 Version

2023 Version

Foreign Languages

Trivia

References