Fact Summary Taxonomy and Nomenclature Distribution and Habitat Physical Characteristics Behavior and Ecology Diet and Feeding Reproduction and Development Diseases and Pathology Managed Care Population and Conservation Status Web Resources Bibliography

Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia
             Order: Artiodactyla (even toed ungulates)
                  Family: Camelidae
                       Genus: Camelus (Asia and Arabia)
                            Species: Camelus dromedarius (one-humped dromedary)
                            Species: Camelus ferus (two-humped Bactrian)
                       Genus: Lama (South America)
                            Species: Lama vicugna (vicuna)
                            Species: Lama guanacoe (guanaco)

•   Recent taxonomies recognize 2-4 subspecies based on morphology and geographic distribution.
  • L. g. guanicoe (Eastern slope of Andes, throughout Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego and Isla Navarino)
  • L. g, huanacus (Chile – western slope of Andes)
  • L. g. voglii  (Southeastern Bolivia, northwestern Paraguay, Argentinean Andes eastern slopes)
  • L. g. cacsilensis (Southern Peru and northern Chile)
• Recent molecular analysis by Marin, et al (2008) found little genetic differentiation. Greatest differences between northern most populations and southern populations (L. g guanicoe and L. g. cacsilensis).
• 37 different scientific names have been assigned to this species.
  • Large number of regional common names: guanaco, huanaco, luan (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru).

• Camelidae evolved in North America and flourished there in the Pleistocene.
  • Migrated to Asia via the Alaskan land bridge, evolving into Arabian and Bactrian Camels.
  • Migrated to South America via the Panama land connection, evolving into Vicunas, and Guanacos (fossils exist from 2 million years ago).
• Camelids became extinct in North America towards end of the Pleistocene but thrived in their new lands.
• Native peoples in the high Andes captured and domesticated guanacos and vicunas (Kadwell 2001).
  • Selective breeding of guanacos resulted in the llama (Lama glama).
  • Selective breeding of the vicunas resulted in the alpaca (Lama pacos).
  • Llamas and alpacas are domestic species and don’t exist in the wild.

• Native to:  Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru
• Distribution:  Found from sea level to 12,800 ft (4000 m)  Rarely 16,000 ft (5,000 m)
  • In Argentina – country with largest population - range covers most of Patagonia but is highly fragmented.
    • Restricted to western half of central and northern Argentina, along the pre-Andes and Andean mountains to Bolivian border (Baigún et al. 2007).
  • In Chile - most are concentrated in the Magallanes and Aysén regions in the south (highest number on Tierra del Fuego island) and Tarapaca region in the north.
  • In Bolivia - remnant population in the Chaco region (Cuéllar and Fuentes 2000). Some in southern highlands between Potosi and Chuquisaca (Nuñez, unpublished data).
  • In Paraguay - remnant population in the northwestern Chaco (Villalba 2004).
  • In Peru - northernmost part of guanaco distribution.

• From Atacama in Chile (one of the world’s driest deserts) to Tierra del Fuego (year-round rain).
• Occupy 4 of South America’s 10 habitat types (Dinerstein).
  • Desert and xeric shrub lands
  • Montane grasslands
  • Grasslands, savannas and shrub landsTemperate forests

• Largest wild mammal in South America (most S.A. mammals are quite small).
• Lighter body and build than camel, but heavier than vicuna.
• Size varies throughout range: Largest guanacos live in southern Patagonia. Smallest live in Peru.
• Heads have straight profile.
• No horns or antlers.
• Large eyes with thick lashes.
• Ears are long and pointed.
• Backs are straight – no humps.
• Unique feature: they walk on pads not hoofs.

• Color varies with region
  • Light brown, brownish yellow, or brownish red on back and neck
  • White belly, rump and backs of legs
  • Head, ears, and nape of neck are gray
• Very dense, wooly coat - thick guard hairs cover short, fine undercoat
• Thick, tough skin

• Soft foot pads under deeply cleft toes.
  • Toenails rather than hooves.
  • Able to move securely on rocky trails and gravel slopes.
• Relatively large heart.
  • 15% greater than mammals of comparable size.
• Blood is adapted to high altitude
  • High hemoglobin concentration of blood – large numbers of small, thin erythrocytes

• Diurnal – Active from
• Percentages of time spent in various activities does not vary throughout the day, despite the fact that more alert behavior would be expected at dawn and dusk (puma hunting time)
  • Males: 65% foraging, 14% alert, 12% resting (no difference between family-group and solo males.)
  • Females: 89% foraging, 26% alert, 43% resting, 15% moving, 11% aggression

• Territorial male with family group – Single male with harems (5-13 adults and ~ 3 young).
• Solo territorial males – Single male with no family of females.
• Male groups (immature males, yearlings evicted from family groups, and old or injured males).
• Bands of adult females with young, move between male territories from middle to late mating season.

• Male establishes and defends desirable territory (sufficient food / few predators).
  • Territory is maintained from mid-spring to late autumn.
  • Dung piles (not used by other herd members) mark territory.
  • Males migrate from wintering grounds back to same territorial region in the spring.
• Fluid movement of females between male territories.
• Summer territories are usually larger than winter territories.
• When conditions are harsh (severe weather/little food) – large mixed herds form (no territoriality).
• Herds are sedentary when forage supplies and weather are stable

• Mothers exhibit aggressive behavior toward predators.
• In controlling his harem, male chases, bites hindlegs of females, forceably expels juveniles.
• Fights over territory can be violent and damaging: link to video of guanaco aggression.

• Spitting: Diffuse spewing of stomach contents (preceded by gulping/ gurgling sound (3-6 ft range).

• Ears, tail and body language combine to provide social information
• Greeting after separation: Stand nose to nose. Horizontal wagging or U-flagging tail movement.
• Tail curved over back, neck low, front limbs slightly bent – submission.
• Ears
  • Straight up – normal
  • Forward – alarm
  • Horizontal – aggression
• Tail
  • Straight down – normal position
  • Horizontal or slightly raised –
  • High Tail – aggression

• Danger warning: high trill
• Snort – mild aggression
• Shreeking – extreme aggression

• Dung piles are used for defecation.

• Can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour.
• Babies can run soon after birth.
• Strong swimmers.

• May kick or spit if threatened.
• Incas used them as pack animals.
• Integrated into lives of the indigenous people (used for transportation, clothing and other textile articles, meat and milk products).
• Raised in non-native countries because of their usefulness as pack animals, pets, and guard animals for sheep.

• Largest herbivore in the South American arid areas.
• “Opportunistic” feeders :“grazers” (diet of grass and herbs) and “browsers” (diet of leaves) Deer and goats are browsers, sheep and cows are grazers.
  • Prefer to forage on herbaceous plants.
  • During winter, feed on shrubs and trees.
  • Have been observed feeding on lichens and cactus.
• Camelid digestive systems have adapted to low-quality forage by retaining food in their pseudo-rumen.
• Dentition similar to sheep and goats – incisors sheer off plants.
• Lips are unique – upper lip is split – each half operates independently to draw in food.
• Although not classified as “ruminants” they are “functional ruminants”.
  • Compartments 1 and 2 or the 3 part stomach are anaerobic fermentation chambers.
  • Regurgitation, rechewing and reswallowing is part of digestive process.
• Sucks water from running streams and ponds. Frequently do not drink during the day.

• Varies with latitude
  • North of Peru – April to June
  • Chilean Patagonia – Mid November to end of January
  • Coast of Northern Chile – Throughout the year
• Concentration of births during a few weeks is an anit-predator strategy (pumas can only take a limited number of young)
  

• Weight: 7-15 kg
• Single offspring – about 10% of mother’s weight.
• Month varies with latitude.
• In Patagonia nearly 80% of births occur during day (newborn dries faster).
• Predation, starvation, weather, accidents can result in up to 70% mortality.

• Exhibit “follower” behavior.
• Able to stand 5-76 minutes after birth.

• Forage intake begins 2-4 weeks.
• Young stay with mother for 1 year (known as chulengos).

• 1-2 years old.
• Males forcibly ejected by territorial males, females remain.

• Females reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age.
• Males sexually mature at 3 years of age.
• Males are unable to defend a territory until fully grown (3-4 years).

• Only evaluation of wild guanacos by Karesh, 1998.
  • Relatively disease-free, but susceptible to common diseases of domestic livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats).
• Captive guanaco : See Fowler’s “Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids” 1998.
  • Unique lice and coccidian.
  • Share some gastrointestinal nematodes with cattle, sheep and goats.
  • Minimally susceptible to T.B.
  • No known natural bovine brucellosis.
  • Mild susceptibility to foot-and mouth disease.
  • Rare clinical disease with other bovine and ovine viral diseases

• Male guanacos may be injured when they are reintroduced to their social group due to normal reaction of a prey species.
• Hand-reared animals can pose a threat to their keepers as they are not inherently frightened of humans.
• The San Diego Zoo received the first pair in 1968. 

• ISIS captive population
• When Europeans arrived in South America, it is estimated that there were 30-50 million guanacos.
• Today, population is below 600,000 animals, and almost 90% are in Argentina.
• Total: Guanaco population : 535,750–589,750
  • Argentina: 466,000–520,000
  • Bolivia: 150-200
  • Chile: 66,000
  • Paraguay: 100
  • Peru: 350

• IUCN Status: Least Concern due to wide distribution of large populations and occurrence in protected areas.
  
• CITES Status: Appendix !!

• Habitat degradation: Occupy only 40% of original range (Puig 1995; Franklin et al. 1997) Distribution is fragmented into smaller, more isolated populations.
• Human activities : recreational and subsistence hunting, poaching, mining, oil exploration and extraction, fencing, and the development of infrastructure (habitat loss and barriers to movement).
• Land desertification due to overgrazing by domestic livestock and frequent droughts associated to climate change.

Conservation Efforts

• Found in a number of protected areas and included in the appendix II of CITES, thus regulating international trade of animal and its products.
• Laws prohibit hunting and poaching.
• Designated as "Endangered" in Peru as of 2004.
• Potential guanaco products include its fiber. High market value due to thermal characteristics, fineness, and color.
• Live-shearing and release of wild guanacos is being practiced in Patagonia.
  • Could contribute to their conservation only if properly managed.
• Around 35% of the high density populations in Argentina are involved
  

•  Larsen, J and Ho, J.. Information resources on South American Camelids: Llamas, Alpacas, Guanacos, and Vicunas 1943-2006   AWIC Resource Series No. 12  Animal Welfare Information Center, USDA  

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