Try not to pet the ginger golden retriever that roams Australia. While they may look like cute dogs, dingos are indeed wild animals. Although most of them are tawny, forest-dwelling wild dogs actually have darker fur with tan markings, while a very small number of wild dogs living in the Alps have creamy, light-colored coats. Wild dogs are mostly solitary but can also hunt in groups of up to 10 with young or offspring. Dingoes are primarily carnivores, but will eat anything and don't bark. Instead, they communicate by howling. Their prey includes rabbits, mice, magpie geese and wallabies, but groups can gang up on kangaroos. There are even stories of wild dogs eating babies. Due to their sheer numbers, they were considered a pest and 3,400 miles of fencing was erected in the 1900s to protect the flock, now known as the Dingo Fence.
With more than 80% of mammals and reptiles unique to Australia, and with more than 500 animals on the endangered species list, it's no surprise the country is home to many animals rarely seen in the wild. Here are five of the rarest and most endangered species.
