Editing Dingo (section)

==Communication==
Like all domestic dogs, dingoes tend towards [[phonetics|phonetic]] communication. However, in contrast to domestic dogs, dingoes [[Howl (sound)|howl]] and whimper more, and [[Bark (sound)|bark]] less. Eight [[Sonority hierarchy|sound classes]] with 19 sound types have been identified.<ref name="DoritAusdruck"/>

===Barking===
[[File:Nullarbor Dingo.jpg|thumb|Dingo on the [[Nullarbor Plain]]]]

Compared to most domestic dogs, the [[bark (dog)|bark]] of a dingo is short and monosyllabic, and is rarely used. Barking was observed to make up only 5% of [[Animal communication|vocalisations]]. Dog barking has always been distinct from wolf barking.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schassburger|first=R.M.|title=Man and Wolf|year=1987|publisher=Dr. W. Junk|location=Dordrecht, the Netherlands|editor=H. Frank|chapter=Wolf vocalization: An integrated model of structure, motivation, and ontogeny}}</ref> Australian dingoes bark mainly in swooshing noises or in a mixture of [[atonality|atonal]] and [[Tone (linguistics)|tonal]] sounds. In addition, barking is almost exclusively used for giving warnings. Warn-barking in a homotypical sequence and a kind of "warn-howling" in a heterotypical sequence have also been observed. The bark-howling starts with several barks and then fades into a rising and ebbing howl and is probably (similar to coughing) used to warn the puppies and members of the [[Pack (canine)|pack]]. Additionally, dingoes emit a sort of "wailing" sound, which they mostly use when approaching a [[watering hole]], probably to warn already present dingoes.<ref name="canid">{{cite book|author=Corbett, Laurie|year=2004|publisher=[[International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources]]|chapter-url=http://www.carnivoreconservation.org/files/actionplans/canids.pdf|chapter=Dingo|title=Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs|editor1=Claudio Sillero-Zubiri|editor2=Michael Hoffmann|editor3=David W. Macdonald|access-date=16 May 2009|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200655/http://www.carnivoreconservation.org/files/actionplans/canids.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the present state of knowledge, getting Australian dingoes to bark more frequently by putting them in contact with other domestic dogs is not possible. However, German zoologist [[Alfred Brehm]] reported a dingo that learned the more "typical" form of barking and how to use it, while its brother did not.<ref name="Brehm">{{cite book|title=Brehms Tierleben|publisher=Bibliographisches Institut|location=Leipzig, Wien|year=1900|pages=82–85|language=de|title-link=Brehms Tierleben}}</ref> Whether dingoes bark or bark-howl less frequently in general is not certain.<ref name="DoritAusdruck">{{cite book|last=Feddersen-Petersen|first=Dorit Urd|title=Ausdrucksverhalten beim Hund|publisher=Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG|location=Stuttgart|year=2008|isbn=978-3-440-09863-9|language=de}}</ref>

===Howling===
Dingoes have three basic forms of howling (moans, bark-howls, and snuffs) with at least 10 variations. Usually, three kinds of howls are distinguished: long and persistent, rising and ebbing, and short and abrupt.

Observations have shown that each kind of howling has several variations, though their purpose is unknown. The frequency of howling varies with the season and time of day, and is also influenced by [[Breeding in the wild|breeding]], [[Animal migration|migration]], [[lactation]], social stability, and [[Biological dispersal|dispersal]] behaviour. Howling can be more frequent in times of food shortage, because the dogs become more widely distributed within their [[home range]].<ref name="canid"/>

Additionally, howling seems to have a group function, and is sometimes an expression of joy (for example, greeting-howls). Overall, howling was observed less frequently in dingoes than among grey wolves. It may happen that one dog will begin to howl, and several or all other dogs will howl back and bark from time to time. In the [[wilderness]], dingoes howl over long distances to attract other members of the pack, to find other dogs, or to keep intruders at bay. Dingoes howl in chorus with significant pitches, and with increasing number of pack members, the variability of pitches also increases.<ref name=corbett1995C5/> Therefore, dingoes are suspected to be able to measure the size of a pack without visual contact.<ref name="impact">{{Cite book|last=Fleming|first=Peter|author2=Laurie Corbett |author3=Robert Harden |author4=Peter Thomson |title=Managing the Impacts of Dingoes and Other Wild Dogs|publisher=Bureau of Rural Sciences|location=Commonwealth of Australia|year=2001}}</ref> Moreover, their highly variable chorus howls have been proposed to generate a confounding effect in the receivers by making pack size appear larger.<ref>Ortolani, A., Corbett, L.K., Feinstein, F.H., and R.P. Coppinger. 2001. "A comparative study of larynx anatomy and howling vocalizations in five canids," poster presented at Canid Biology and Conservation Conference, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.</ref>

=== Other forms ===
Growling, making up about 65% of the vocalisations, is used in an [[wikt:agonistic|agonistic]] context for [[dominance (ethology)|dominance]], and as a defensive sound. Similar to many domestic dogs, a reactive usage of defensive growling is only rarely observed. Growling very often occurs in combination with other sounds, and has been observed almost exclusively in swooshing noises (similar to barking).<ref name="DoritAusdruck"/>

During observations in [[Germany]], dingoes were heard to produce a sound that observers have called ''Schrappen''. It was only observed in an agonistic context, mostly as a defence against obtrusive pups or for defending resources. It was described as a bite intention, during which the receiver is never touched or hurt. Only a clashing of the teeth could be heard.<ref name="DoritAusdruck"/>

Aside from vocal communication, dingoes communicate, like all domestic dogs, via [[Raised-leg urination|scent marking]] specific objects (for example, ''[[Triodia (grass)|Spinifex]]'') or places (such as waters, trails, and hunting grounds) using [[Urine spraying#Canidae|chemical signals from their urine]], feces, and [[scent gland]]s. Males scent mark more frequently than females, especially during the [[Mating season#Breeding season|mating season]]. They also [[scent rub]], whereby a dog rolls its neck, shoulders, or back on something that is usually associated with food or the scent markings of other dogs.<ref name="canid"/>

Unlike wolves, dingoes can react to social cues and gestures from humans.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Young| first=Emma| title=Dingoes skilled at Reading Human Gestures| journal=[[Australian Geographic]]| date=5 March 2010| url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/dingoes-skilled-at-reading-human-gestures.htm| access-date=13 January 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126142449/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/dingoes-skilled-at-reading-human-gestures.htm| archive-date=26 January 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref>