An ancient dog species, the New Guinea singing dog, has been rediscovered and may help scientists better understand human vocalization.

(Photo: Pexels)
An ancient species of dog, the New Guinea singing dog, has been rediscovered and may help scientists better understand human vocalization.

New Study

A new study published in the journal PNAS utilized genomics and conservation biology of wild and captive-bred populations. It was considered extinct for the last half-century. The study involved researchers from the National Institutes of Health's NHGRI or National Human Genome Research Institute in Cenderawasih University, Indonesia, and other academic institutions.

Researchers found a population still wandering the New Guinea Highlands, providing opportunities for its protection.

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Usefulness in Research

This dog species is remarkable because it can help biologists discover insights into human vocalization. The singing dog is a unique and valuable animal model studying the causes of human vocal disorders and creating potential treatments.

Studies on Singing Dogs

This dog breed is known for having a characteristic and unique vocalization. It can create harmonic and pleasing sounds that have tonal quality. There are a mere 200 to 300 captive specimens in conservation institutions. Since the 1970s, no wild individual has been seen.

According to senior study author and NIH Distinguished Investigator Dr. Elaine Ostrander, this New Guinea species is an artificial breed created by captive breeding. They came from an original stock of eight individuals bred together in the US.

As such, Ostrander says that the captive population has undergone significant inbreeding, enough for their genomic character to be changed. There is now reduced variation in the DNA of the group.

This inbreeding has likely caused the loss of many of the species' genomic variants, which is still present in wild populations. This reduction in variation threatens their survival.

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Highland Wild Dog Field Studies

The Highland Wild Dog is a wild breed of New Guinea singing dogs. It has the same physical characteristics and is the most ancient and rarest dogs in existence.

The lack of Highland Wild Dog information on its genomes and its reclusiveness made it challenging to determine its relation to New Guinea singing dogs.

Field studies in 2016 and 2018 allowed for the collection of blood samples and behavioral, physiologic, and demographic data from the Highland Wild Dog.

According to Dr. Heidi Parker, NHGRI scientist, through genomic analyses, they discovered that the two groups of dogs have striking similarities in their genomes. They are more closely related to one another than to other canine breeds.

Generating a New Population

The researchers believe that their genomic similarities may mean that the Highland Wild Dogs comprise the New Guinea singing dogs' original wild population. They are essentially one breed, which proves that wild New Guinea singing dogs are still extant.

Thus, the researchers suggest that breeding wild Highland Wild Dogs with captive New Guinea singing dogs will spawn a new singing dog population, preserving it and expanding the captive singing dog population.

Proto-Dogs

These two dog breeds still belong to the Canis lupus familiaris species, although they have genomic variants that are absent in other dog breeds.

Dr. Ostrander says this proto-dogs will help provide a better history of dogs' domestication and new information on dog breeds.

Future Studies

Researchers plan to study the New Guinea singing dog's genomics on vocalization to help treat human vocalization deficits.

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