Vicuna

== Description ==
The vicuña (Lama vicugna) or vicuna is one of the two wild South American camelids, which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes. Vicunas are relatives of the llama, and are now believed to be the wild ancestor of domesticated alpacas, which are raised for their coats. The Inca valued vicunas highly for their wool, and it was against the law for anyone but royalty to wear vicuna garments; today, the vicuna is the national animal of Peru and appears on the Peruvian coat of arms.
== Appearance ==
The vicuña is the smallest member of the family of camelids and is regarded as the alpaca's wild ancestor. It looks endearing, with its large, forward-facing eyes and small, wedge-shaped head with sharply triangular ears. The color of the head varies from reddish-brown to yellow, and its neck is pale orange. Its chest is covered with a silky white mane, but the fur of the rest of its body is soft and of the same length. It has a pale brown back and its underside and the inner parts of its flanks are dirty white.
== Distribution ==
Vicunas occur in the Andes in southern Peru, north-western Argentina, western Bolivia, and northern Chile. They live in mountainous areas, with cold-dry weather. Their habitat is dominated by xerophytic vegetation and large areas of bare ground with semi-arid rolling grasslands, marshes, and plains known as “antiplano” or “puna”. Vicunas are found in areas where water is available for them to drink on a daily basis.
== Lifestyle ==
Vicunas are shy and alert animals that run away very rapidly. When they sense danger, they make a clear whistling noise. The dominant male warns the herd with its alarm call and then positions himself between the threat and his herd. A single dominant male is the leader of a group of juveniles and females. He decides the range of the herd's territory and its membership and drives other male vicuñas away from his group. Family groups are closed, excluding non-member males and sometimes even preventing young female animals from joining. A family group usually numbers 6-10 individuals, according to food availability in its territory. Vicunas have a feeding territory as well as a separate territory for sleeping. They are diurnal animals, and at night go up to their sleeping territory at higher altitudes. Adults that do not lead a herd either become solitary or join a large herd of 30 to 150 individuals.
== Diet ==
Vicunas are herbivorous (graminivorous) animals. They only, eat low grasses which grow in clumps on the ground
== Reproduction ==
Vicunas are polygynous, the dominant male mating with all mature females from his herd. The mating season begins in March or April. The gestation period is 330 to 350 days, and a single fawn is born. A fawn can stand just 15 minutes after being born. It remains close to its mother for 8 months or more, continuing to suckle until the age of 10 months and becoming independent at around 12 to 18 months of age. Young males join bachelor groups and young females join a sorority. Females become reproductively mature at 2 years of age and some are still reproducing at 19 years.
== Population ==
=== Population threats ===
Poaching takes place, and the vicuna’s coats and products are smuggled in large amounts to Asia and Europe. Habitat loss due to over-grazing from domestic livestock or human activities, pollution of water sources, and mining, is a further threat. Climate change may damage the delicate ecosystem where the vicuna lives. A recent potential threat, in the Andes as well as worldwide, is the breeding of a vicuna and alpaca hybrid (a pacovicuña) for commercial purposes.
=== Population number ===
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the vicuna is 347,273 individuals, including estimates for specific regions: Argentina: 127,072 or 72,678 individuals; Bolivia: 62,869 individuals; Chile: 16,942 individuals; Ecuador: 2,683 individuals; Peru: 188,327 individuals. Vicunas’ numbers are increasing today and they are classified as least concern (LC) on the list of threatened species.
== Fun Facts ==
The vicuna has the honor to be pictured on the crest of the Peruvian flag.
The vicuna has good eyesight and quite good hearing but it has a poor sense of smell.
Given the DNA evidence, it is now generally thought that alpacas descended from vicunas thousands of years ago.
During the fighting, the male will usually spit at his opponent.
Vicunas make a high soprano whistle as a warning call.
Vicuna babies will often graze while they are lying down.
The male vicuna feels most happy and at ease when surrounded by 5-15 females.
Vicunas can live in cold temperatures at night even though they have very thin wool. Their bodies can trap the sun's heat during the day in their skin to keep them warm during the night.
== Gallery ==
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== Main References ==
https://animalia.bio/vicuna
Category:Animals
Category:Animalia
Category:Chordata
Category:Vertebrata
Category:Vertebrates
Category:Mammals
Category:Mammalia
Category:Artiodactyla
Category:Camelidae
Category:Vicugna
Category:Diurnal Animals
Category:Herbivores
Category:Graminivores
Category:Terrestrial Animals
Category:Cursorial Animals
Category:Congregatory Animals
Category:Viviparous Animals
Category:Precocial Animals
Category:Grazers
Category:Territorial Animals
Category:Polygynous Animals
Category:Social Animals
Category:Herding Animals
Category:Non-Migrational Animals
Category:South American Animals
Category:Animals of Argentina
Category:Animals of Bolivia
Category:Animals of Chile
Category:Animals of Peru
Category:Least Concern Animals