New Guinea singing dogs still exist in captivity, but their numbers are small.

Now, researchers say that what was previously thought to be a totally different species of wild canine in the region — the highland wild dog — is actually the New Guinea singing dog.

The research, which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined the DNA of highland wild dogs and compared it to the DNA of known singing dogs.

“The study also fills in some missing blanks in understanding the complex relationship between highland wild dogs, dingoes and New Guinea singing dogs in conservation centers.

So it looks like the singing dogs are back from the dead, in a way, or are at least incredibly closely related to the New Guinea singing dogs that are effectively the same species