Guanaco

The Guanaco (Lama Guanicoe) is a camelid native to South America. Described by Charles Darwin as “an elegant animal, with a long, slender neck and fine legs”, the Guanaco is the largest wild member of the camelid family in South America, and is believed to be the ancestor of the domestic llama. The name Guanaco comes from the South American language Quechua word “Huanaco”. Young Guanacos are called Chulengos.

The Guanaco stands between 1 and 1,2 m at the shoulder and weighs about 90 kg. The woolly coat is a light fawn brown on top, with white undersides and a grey head, and the area around the lips, the edges of the ears and the insides of the legs are also white. Like other camelids, the Guanaco walks on enlarged sole pads, with only the tips of the hooves touching the ground; in the Guanaco these pads are moveable and help give grip on rocky and gravelly terrain. The Guanaco is an animal native to the arid, mountainous regions of South America. They are found in the altiplano of Peru, Bolivia and Chile. In Argentina, they are more numerous in Patagonian regions, as well as in places such as the Torres del Paine National Park, and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.

Groups of up to 30 female Guanacos and their young live on feeding territories defended by a single adult male, the boundaries of the territory being marked by communal dung heaps, known as latrines. Young and non-territorial males are found either alone or in all-male groups, although groups of all ages and sexes may form in migratory populations during winter. The female Guanaco gives birth to a single offspring each year, in spring, after a gestation of 345 to 360 days. The newborn is able to run and follow the female almost immediately after birth, and remains with the group until around 13 to 15 months old, when it is usually forced out by the adult male. After leaving the family group, young male Guanacos spend three to four years in all-male bachelor groups, practicing fighting skills and competing for dominance with other males, in readiness to challenge territorial males for control of a group of females. Rivals are fought with neck wrestling and chest ramming, often accompanied by a high-pitched scream and low growl.

The Guanaco is flexible in its feeding habits, foraging mainly on grasses and shrubs, but also taking lichens, cacti and succulent plants when other food sources are scarce. The Guanaco is surprisingly graceful in its movements, and is capable of running at speeds of up to 56 kilometres per hour. Its blood is able to carry more oxygen than other mammals, enabling it to function well at high altitudes. Captive Guanacos may live up to 28 years.
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