The family provides the social context that develops communication skills. The territorial male acts as the gatekeeper. He signals, and chases off, overanxious males that would disrupt his females. Constantly on patrol, he also provides and protects the foraging area in his territory and is often the first to spot predators such as mountain lions and people. Once a year he expels yearlings, allowing females to devote all their resources to helping a newborn chulengo survive its first winter.
Communication becomes a tool to maintain and protect the family group and safeguard territory.
Understanding the many ways the animals talk helps to provide some basic insight into their lives. Guanacos often communicate in a concert of various movements, body displays, vocalizations and even scents. Body language Whole body posture is especially important to mature males that spend much of their time advertising the boundaries of their territory. From as far as a mile away, the territorial male can give the warning that violence awaits any intruding guanaco. If the intruder responds with a broadside display of his own and dares enter forbidden turf, the territorial male will attack violently.