Ancient genomes reveal over two thousand years of dingo population structure

Dingoes are culturally and ecologically important free-living canids whose ancestors arrived in Australia over 3,000 B.P., likely transported by seafaring people. However, their early history remains uncertain due to their complex relationship with New Guinea singing dogs and suspected post-Colonial hybridization with domestic dogs. This study analyzed genome-wide data from nine ancient dingo specimens (400 to 2,746 years old), predating European colonization. Results indicate that continent-wide population structure observed in modern dingoes emerged thousands of years ago. Excess allele sharing between New Guinea singing dogs and ancient dingoes from coastal New South Wales compared to those from southern Australia was detected, irrespective of post-Colonial hybrid ancestry. Findings suggest at least two migration waves from source populations with varying affinities to New Guinea singing dogs, and that modern dingoes have minimal post-Colonial hybrid ancestry.

Yassine Souilmi, Sally Wasef, Matthew P. Williams, Gabriel Conroy, Ido Bar, Pere Bover, Bastien Llamas, Steven Wright, Michael Archer, William O. Ballard, Elizabeth Reed, Jackson Dann, Holly Heiniger, Keryn Walsh, Joanne L. Ogburn, Jane Balme, Sue O'Connor, Alan Cooper, Kieren J. Mitchell