That's very interesting Andy - so quite ancient then, and ~3500 year old genetically stable Dingoes are relatively new 'pups' on the block! .... :cat:
Yet in that short (in evolutionary or geological/paleological epoch terms), the Dingo evolved (or had infused) quantifiable differences 'in the wild'. The howling, the notably different skull structure and the once a year breeding cycle (though with most beasties in Australia 'making hay while the sun shines' with back to back good seasons, I wonder if this is a hard and fast rule for Dingoes? - for example, I've seen Black Shouldered Kites raise 10! fledglings in 3 back to back broods over ~9 months .... 4, 3, and 3, after which I think the male went off to have a well deserved heart attack!
:eek!:
That's why I said to John it's a rather complex situation, there's no reliable way of telling a genetically pure Dingo from a first or more generation hybrid, save for measuring the inside of the dead Dingoes cleaned skull - highly illogical methodology for conserving a species!
Also, where do you draw the line? 98% pure? 95? 90? 80? other? If any of our Paleo scientists can shed light on the accepted scientific classifications of such dilutions I would be very interested ...... :cat:
Because of this difficulty in identification separation, and the absolute impossibility of physical separation (at least on the mainland), I think the 'evolving Dingo' is largely here to stay. Average size /weight increases apart, I think the major risk and potential impacts come if a genetic dilution tipping point is reached and the Dingo starts breeding twice a year like the domestic dog (gone wild) genetically does .... there could be an explosion in numbers. Some may think the Dingo a bit of a non event, but I think several thousand years of genetic purity is reasonably remarkable in this modern age ....
I will never forget walking out the back of the Kanangra-Boyd National Park, and hearing this god unholy howling coming from the 'Wild Dog' Mountains - scared the living bejayzus outta me, I can tell ya! It sounded exactly like something from out of the movie 'The Grey' .... :eek!::eek!:
Again, if any of our Paleo scientists can shed light on how Mankind and latterly, a humble dingo was able to supposedly wreak such havoc (extinctions) on indigenous Megafauna including fearsome predators like the Marsupial Lion
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsupial_lion in Australia, and yet Africa didn't suffer the same effects. I read the Megafaunal mass extinction summary here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megafauna , but I'm still struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of the difference between Australia and Africa ???? Neither had Guns, Germs or Steel ......
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel
I can't say that I totally buy the 'fire stick farming' bit
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire-stick_farming , if anything, to my mind fluctuations in frequency possibly occurred as a result of the disappearance of Megafauna, not as a cause .... :cat: Also I'm thinking that natural lightning induced conflagrations far outweighed the effects of man.
Can anyone scientifically explain the difference between our present day large macropod grazing conditions/ vegetation /adaptations and those of the Megafauna herbivores?
Also, is it possible that some form of large native carnivore still exists in the depths of the wilds? Or are giant feral cats the extent of it?
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3527496#post3527496
Thanks.
Chosun :gh: