New Guinea singing dog
The New Guinea singing dog (Canis lupus dingo) is a wild true dog. It was once found throughout the island of New Guinea. The New Guinea Singing Dog is named for its unique vocalization. Little is known about New Guinea singing dogs in their native habitat and there are only two confirmed photographs of wild sightings. Captive-bred New Guinea Singing Dogs serve as companion dogs.
Name
The New Guinea Singing Dog, also known as Hallstrom’s dog, are named for their distinctive and melodious howl, which is characterized by a sharp increase in pitch at the start and very high frequencies at the end.
Taxonomy
Lineage
History
The first singing dog was taken from New Guinea in 1897. At that time many naturalists killed their specimens and studied them later. Such was the case with the first New Guinea dingo, which was shot and killed by Sir William MacGregor on Mount Scratchley at an elevation of 2,133 metres (6,998 ft).
MacGregor sent both the skin and the skeleton, preserved in alcohol, to the Queensland Museum. He described the dog as 11.5 in (29 cm) at the shoulder and primarily black in colour. White markings trimmed the neck, the throat, chest and tip of the tail. In 1911 C.W. DeVis assembled and studied MacGregor's specimen, along with Professor Wood Jones, followed by H.A. Longman in 1928. From 1897 until 1954, this single specimen comprised the scientific community's entire body of knowledge regarding the New Guinea singing dog.
