Vladimir Dinets is a zoologist and author, known for his studies of Crocodilian behavior and of numerous rare animals in remote parts of the world, as well as for popular writings in Russian and English.
Dinets' early zoological studies were conducted in remote areas of the USSR, China and South America; he also participated in a number of conservation projects in Russia, Mongolia, Israel and Peru. In 1992 he solved the mystery of the ability of rock ptarmigans to winter on Arctic islands in total darkness: they survive by feeding on rich vegetation on sea cliffs where seabird colonies are located in summer.Dinets, V. Winter ecology of willow and rock ptarmigans at the northern limit of their range. Ornitologia 29: 326-327
In 1996-1999 Dinets conducted a study of international trade in endangered insects and consulted the governments of Nepal and Sikkim on the issue, providing a set of recommendations for improving anti-poaching and anti-traffic control.Dinets, V. Shadows around a lamp. Arguments and Facts, December 19, 2001
In 2005-2013 Dinets conducted a comparative study of social behavior of Crocodilians, working in 26 countries. In 2005 he discovered "alligator dances". By 2010 he elucidated the roles of many signals used by Crocodilians, and proposed their possible evolutionary history. In 2009-2013 he documented the ability of crocodiles and alligators to use coordination and role separation during cooperative hunting and to use sticks as lures for hunting birds looking for nesting material. He also conducted the first scientific studies of play behavior in crocodilians and on coordinated hunting in snakes.
In 2011 Dinets took part in WWF expedition to Vietnam to study saola, and became the first zoologist to find and photograph saola tracks in the wild.
Since 2011 Dinets is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee, where he is studying behavioral ecology and its applications to conservation. His most recent work is on predicting the effects of possible invasions of brood parasites from Eurasia into North America.
In 1993-1997 Dinets wrote a number of books about travel that remain popular in Russia.
Volumes of Encyclopedia of Russian Nature series, Actual Biology Fund, 26,000 copies published: A. Beme, A. Cherenkov, V. Dinets, V. Flint. Birds of Russia ; V. Dinets, E. Rotshild. Mammals of Russia ; V. Dinets, E. Rotshild. Domestic Animals, 1998.
J. Newell The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development.J. Newell The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development. Daniel & Daniel Publishers.
V. Dinets. Dragon Songs: Love and Adventure among Crocodiles, Alligators, and Other Dinosaur RelationsV. Dinets Dragon Songs: Love and Adventure among Crocodiles, Alligators, and Other Dinosaur Relations Arcade Publishing.
V. Dinets. Peterson Field Guide to Finding Mammals in North AmericaV. Dinets Peterson Field Guide to Finding Mammals in North America Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
V. Dinets. Wildlife Spectacles: Mass Migrations, Mating Rituals, and Other Fascinating Animal BehaviorsV. Dinets Wildlife Spectacles: Mass Migrations, Mating Rituals, and Other Fascinating Animal Behaviors Timber Press.
