Dingoes Likely Evolved From Asian Settlers’ Pets

Dingoes, the yellow native dogs of Australia, probably evolved from a very small group of pets brought by Southeast Asian settlers, researchers reported Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Genetic tests on dingoes and a range of dogs from around the world show the animals can date their ancestry back 5,000 years, to either a single female or a very small group of animals, the international team of researchers said. This coincides with the arrival in Australia of settlers from Southeast Asia.