Skip to Content

Wild Canines Compared: The Difference Between Dingoes and Coyotes

Wild Canines Compared: The Difference Between Dingoes and Coyotes

If you have an interest in animals, especially wild animals, then you will love reading this article. In this article, you will learn all the differences between a dingo and a coyote. A dingo and a coyote are wild animals, and they are rare.

However, there are many differences between them, as a dingo is a domestic dog and a coyote is a kind of wolf. Dingoes and coyotes are approximately the same size, but dingoes weigh a little more. They can strike harder and have more powerful bites.

Dingoes are also far more energetic than coyotes, with the ability to jump, and they can even climb a tree with ease. If there is a fight between a dingo and a coyote, the dingo will most likely win the fight.

Things You Need to Know About Dingoes

A dingo would be roaming around the continent of Australia. In the past, the ancestor of the dingo came with humans from Southeast Asia thousands of years ago.

  • A dingo is a medium-sized wild dog with a stiff body.
  • The average length of a wild male dingo is 125 cm, and the length of a wild female dingo is 122 cm.
  • A dingo has a tail that is about twelve to thirteen inches long.
  • You can see three different colors of the dingo: black and tan, creamy white, and light ginger or tan.
  • The wedge-shaped skull looks big as compared to the rest of the body.
  • Have you seen a New Guinea dog? A dingo is quite similar to the New Guinea dog.
  • A dingo is a mammal, and the scientific name for dingo is Canis Lupus Dingo.
  • It is a carnivore animal that hunts for animals alone or with a group. They try to catch small animals such as birds, rabbits, lizards, and rodents. Some people say these dogs might eat fruits and plants as well.
  • They also attack humans if they are hungry and looking for food.
  • The dingoes breed once a year only. The female of a dingo gives birth to a max of five pups at a time. The pups usually take six to eight months to become independent.
  • When dingoes roam in packs, a dominating female that is breeding might kill the baby of another female dingo.
A dingo
A dingo is waiting to attack the prey

Interesting Facts About Coyotes

Coyotes are also known as prairie wolves or American jackals. The scientific name for coyote is Canis Latrans.

Location

You can find coyotes in North and Central America. They are spread throughout America and Canada. In Canada, you can find them in northern areas like Alaska.

Physical Features

The throat and belly typically have a buff or white tint, whereas the upper regions of the coyote’s pelt can range in color from grayish-brown to yellowish-gray. The muzzle and paws, the forelegs, and the sides of the head are reddish-brown.

Tawny underfur covers the back, and long guard hairs with black tips form a dark cross on the shoulders and a black dorsal stripe. The tail of the coyote is black-tipped. As compared to the rest of the body, the feet are comparatively small, although the ears are considerably larger than the skull.

Shedding

Once a year, coyotes shed their hair and this process starts in May with minor hair loss and ends in July with severe shedding.

Coyotes that live in the mountains have black fur, while the coyotes that live in deserts have light brown hair.

Lifespan

The height of a coyote is about 22 to 26 inches. The weight of a coyote is about 30 to 40 pounds.

The lifespan of a coyote is an average of 3 years. Wild coyotes are more likely to consume a domestic dog other than to grow comfortable with it.

A coyote is lying
A coyote is lying on the snow in Northern America

Differences Between a Dingo and a Coyote

FeaturesDingoCoyote
LocationA dingo would be roaming around the continent of Australia. In the past, the ancestor of the dingo came with humans from southeast Asia, thousands of years ago.You can find coyotes in North and Central America. They are spread throughout America and Canada. In Canada, you can find them in northern portions like Alaska.
SizeThe height of a dingo is about twenty to twenty-four inches.The height of a coyote is about twenty-two to twenty-six inches.
WeightThe weight of a dingo is about twenty-two to thirty-three pounds.The weight of a coyote is about fifteen to forty-seven pounds.
ShapeThe dingoes are heavier than coyotes. They have a wedge-shaped head, lean body, and flattish tail.The coyotes have thin faces, muzzles, and bodies.
LifespanThe lifespan of a dingo is an average of 7 to 8 years.The lifespan of a coyote is an average of 3 years.
ColorYou can see three different colors of the dingo, black and tan, creamy white, and light ginger or tan.Coyotes that live in the mountains have black fur, while the coyotes that live in deserts have light brown hair.
StrengthIf there is a fight between a dingo and a coyote, a dingo will win the fight. Dingoes are stronger than coyotes because they are bigger and more powerful than coyotes.The coyotes have thin bodies. They are weaker than the dingoes.
DietA dingo can eat wombats, rabbits, sheep, reptiles, fish, birds, insects, possums, kangaroos, wallabies, and amphibians.A coyote can eat mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, elk, rodents, hares, lizards, insects, snakes, and birds.
CommunicationUsually, a dingo whimpers, howls, short barks, and growls.However, coyotes bark, whimper, whine, growl, and howl.
Dingo vs. Coyote

Who Would Win: Dingo or Coyote?

In a face-to-face fight between dingoes and coyotes, dingoes have much potential to win the fight.

Dingoes and coyotes are almost similar in size, but dingoes are barely heavier. Dingoes are relatively more nimble than coyotes, and because of this, they can jump and climb trees readily.

Watch this video to know more about the difference between dingo and coyote

Conclusion

  • A dingo is a domestic dog, and a coyote is a kind of wolf. Dingoes and coyotes are wild animals, and they are rare.
  • Dingoes and coyotes are approximately the same in size, but dingoes weigh a little more.
  • A dingo would be roaming around the continent of Australia. You can find coyotes in North and Central America.
  • If there is a fight between a dingo and a coyote, a dingo will win the fight. Dingoes are stronger than coyotes because they are bigger and more powerful than coyotes.
  • The lifespan of a dingo is an average of 7 to 8 years. The lifespan of a coyote is an average of 3 years.
  • In the past, the ancestor of the dingo came with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago.
  • There is an interesting fact about dingoes! Dingoes can interbreed with other domestic dogs to give birth to hybrid animals.

Other Articles

Skip to content