Vicuña - Vicugna vicugna Vicuña Genus: Vicugna Species: vicugna The vicuña is a member of the camel family. It is the smallest of the six species of camel, and is thought to be the wild ancestor of the alpaca. It lives on the high, grassland plateaus of the Andes mountains which range from southern Peru to northern Chile and into parts of Bolivia and Argentina. Only tough bunch grasses and festuca grows here. The sun's ultraviolet rays burn through the thin atmosphere during the day. At night the heat of the day escapes into the atmosphere and the temperatures go down to freezing. Although they look fragile, the vicuña is specially adapted to its high-altitude habitat. It has an incredibly thick, soft coat that traps layers of warm air close to its body and protects it from freezing temperatures. The lower teeth of the vicuña grow constantly, like a rodent's, so they can eat the tough grasses. The vicuña also walks on the soles of its feet so it can flex its toes and grab on to the rocks and gravel-covered slopes. Vicuña milk is very rich so the babies grow quickly.

Vicuñas weigh between 75-140 pounds. They are about 4-6 feet long and stand 2-3 1/2 feet at the shoulders. They have very long necks, round heads, and large, forward facing eyes. Their ears are long and pointed and stand up on their heads. Their fur is a rust color, with white around the muzzle,the chest, belly, and the insides of the legs. The white hair on their chests is longer than their other hair. Vicuñas graze mostly on grasses. Their teeth are large and grow constantly like those of a rodent. They chew their cud when resting getting more nutrients out of the nutrient poor grass. Vicuñas are very shy animals and run away fery quickly.They have two territories that they defend from other herds; a feeding territory or about 45 acres, and a smaller sleeping area on higher ground where they are more protected. The vicuña live in herds of 5-10 members, which includes one dominant male and several females and their young. They mate in March and April and their young are born 11 months later.

The young stay with their mother and the herd for another 10 months, when they are driven off by the herd. Young males will form bachelor groups and the young females try to find another group to join. This ensures that the herd stays the same size, which is important with their limited food supply. The vicuña was almost hunted to extinction for its beautiful soft wool. The Incas used to round up the wild vicuñas and pen them in stone corrals, where they were sheared for their wool. In modern times they were almost wiped out for their meat and wool. By 1960 there were only 6,000 vicuñas left in the wild. Chile and Peru established protected national parks and put a halt to trade in vicuña wool. Now there are about 125,000 vicuñas, but they are still listed as threatened. The vicuña is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, and as endangered by the USDI. 2000.

ADW: Vicugna vicugna: INFORMATION References Geographic Range The current range of the vicuna lies in the Andes of southern Peru, western Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and northern Chile (Nowak, 1991). Biogeographic Regions native Habitat Vicunas are found in semiarid rolling grasslands and plains at altitudes of 3,500-5,750 meters. These lands are covered with short and tough vegetation. Due to their daily water demands, vicunas live in areas where water is readily accessible. Climate in the habitat is usually dry and cold. Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990). Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland Physical Description The vicuna is the smallest living species among the family Camelidae. Head and body length is 1,250-1,900 mm, tail length is 150-250mm, and shoulder height is 700-1,100mm. A slender body and relatively long neck and limbs give a vicuna an elegant appearance. The ears are long, pointed, and narrow.

The head is round and yellowish to red-brown in color. The long neck has yellowish red bib. The underside and inner parts of the flanks are dirty white. A strange mane, 20-30cm long, with silky-white hair adorns the chest. Overall, the pelage is uniform and soft. Compared to the similar-looking Lama guanicoe, the vicuna is one fourth the size, its body is paler, and it lacks callosities on the inner sides of the forelimbs. Relative weight of the brain is greater than that of the guanaco. Among living artiodactyls, vicunas have unique, rodent-like incisors that are covered with enamel on only one side. Features believed to be adaptations to high altitudes include a large heart, specialized blood cells with hemoglobin of greater affinty for oxygen, and a weight that is 50 percent heavier than other mammals of the same size. Vision and hearing is good, although the former is far more developed. Olfaction is fairly poor. Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990).

Other Physical Features 77.09 to 143.17 lb Reproduction Mating begins in March and April. They mate while lying down on their chests, and copulation lasts 10-20 minutes. After 330-350 days of gestation period, a female gives birth to a single offspring of 4-6 kg in February and March. The female gives birth in a standing position, and it neither licks nor eats the afterbirth. The mother mates soon after giving birth. The young is mobile after just 15 minutes at birth. It remains close aside its mother for at least 8 months. It continues to suckle until it reaches 10 months. Young females at this stage are expelled from the herd by the dominant male. For young males, this happens at 4-9 months. Expelled females are usually accepted into another group. Females are capable of mating when they reach 2 years. Some are still reproductively active at 19 years. Vicunas in the wild live up to 15-20 years. In captivity, an individual was reported to have lived 24 years.

MacDonald (1984), Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990). Key Reproductive Features Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research Behavior Vicunas are alert and shy animals that flee very rapidly. They are capable of running 47 km/hr at an elevation of 4,500 meters. Movement is extremely graceful compared to any other hoofed animal. When in danger, vicunas make a clear, whistling sound. The dominant male warns its herd with an alarm call, and positions itself between the threat and the members. A single dominant male leads a group of females and juveniles. It determines the range of the territory and group membership, and it drives other males away from the family. The territorial male keeps its members closely together at a distance of no more than 160ft. Group members display submission to the male by laying their neck over the back. Family groups are closed societies, excluding alien males and, at times, preventing even young females from joining. The average size of a family is 6-10 individuals depending on the feeding condition in the territory. Vicunas are one of the few ungulates to possess a feeding territory and a separate sleeping territory.

They are diurnal, and at night they retreat to their sleeping areas at higher altitudes. Adult males that do not lead any herd become either solitary, or they form a large group of 30 or even 150 individuals. However, there is low cohesiveness among the members of these bachelor herds, and hierarchy is absent. Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990). Key Behaviors chemical Food Habits The vicuna is strictly a grazer. Its diet consist of mostly short perennial grasses. The incisors are specially adapted to its diet. They are large and continuously growing as in rodents. The young often graze while lying down. Both young and adults chew cud when they are at rest. Unlike most other camelids, the vicuna requires daily intake of water. Therefore, when selecting a territory, it searches an area with favorable watering sites. The average feeding range is 184ha. Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990), MacDonald (1984). Economic Importance for Humans: Positive In the past, vicunas were an important source of wool and meat.

At the time of the Incas, vicunas were captured, shorn and released into the wild again. During 19th and 20th century, there was a huge commercial demand for the wool. Recent law only permits use of wool shorn from a living vicuna. Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990). Economic Importance for Humans: Negative Competition with domestic livestock. Conservation Status The vicuna is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, and as endangered by the USDI. During the period of the Incas, the total population reached 1.5 million. With the fall of the empire, the number dropped dramatically due to massive slaughter by the conquerors and the settlers. By 1960, the number decreased to only 6,000. Recent efforts of establishing national parks and organizations for protection of vicunas have brought the population back up to 125,000. About half of this number live at the Pampas Galeras National Vicuna Reserve in Peru. Nowak (1991), Grzimek (1990). uses touch to communicate tropical savanna and grassland A terrestrial biome.

Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia. savanna A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome. temperate grassland A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands. References Grizmek, 1990. Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Volume V. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company MacDonald, 1984. Encyclopedia of Mammals. Facts on File Publications, NY. Nowak, R.M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. Fifth Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Camelidae - camels, llamas, alpacas, vicugnas | Wildlife Journal Junior Home | Wild Files | N.H. Animals | Animals A-Z | Watch Online Camelidae - camels, llamas, alpacas, vicugnas The six species in this family are found in two groups. Camels are found in Asia and Africa. Llamas, alpacas, and vicugnas are found in South America. The species in this family are large and most of them have been domesticated. They are herbivores and have three-chambered stomachs. Their top lip is split into two and they can move each part separately! They have long necks and a small head and long legs with padded feet with two large toes. They live in small groups made up of females and their young and one adult male. Although there are no living species of camelidae family in North America today, the fossil record shows that the family started and evolved there. Scientists have found preserved remains in the La Brea Tar Pits near Los Angeles. The members of the camelidae family that were in North America probably resembled llamas. Members of this family migrated to South America and Asia over land bridges.

By the end of the last glacial age, they had become extinct in North America. The bactrian camel is found in the Gobi desert in Mongolia and China. The Gobi desert is a cold desert and the bactrian camel has many adaptations that help is survive in a cold desert habitat. It has two humps on its back. The hump is not filled with water; it is filled with fat. The camel uses this stored fat when water and food are scarce. While the bactrian camel doesn't store water in its humps, it does have special sack in its stomach that can hold over a gallon of water, and it can go a few days without drinking. In the winter, it has a thick, shaggy coat that helps keep it warm. Its bushy eyebrows; long double rows of eyelashes; and nostrils and lips that close tightly help keep sand out of its eyes, nose, and mouth. The bactrian camel stands as tall as seven feet from its shoulder to its feet and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. The bactrian camel is an herbivore and eats grass, leaves, thorns, and bark. It prefers salty plants.

It has tough lips that let it eat very hard vegetation. Most bactrian camels are now domesticated and there are only a few hundred in the wild. The dromedarian camel is found in the deserts in Africa and the Middle East. It has one hump that stores fat, not water. It stands 6-7 feet from its shoulder to its feet. It has long legs and padded feet with two toes. It has a long, curved neck and a small head with a long snout with nostrils that can close. Its upper lip is split into two sections, and it can pull its lips in tightly to keep out sand. It is light brown in color and has a shorter coat than the bactrian camel. It eats a wide variety of plants and can eat tough and hard plant parts that other animals can't chew or digest. It prefers salty plants. The llama, the guanaco, and the alpaca. They are all native to the Andes Mountains in South America and they are all herbivores. The only wild species is the guanaco. The llama and the alpaca are domesticated. The guanaco is found in the grasslands of the Andes Mountains.

It has a small head, long legs, and a long neck. It is about 3.5 feet tall from shoulder to feet. It has a shaggy, reddish-brown coat and is white on its undersides. Like the camels, it has a split upper lip. It eats grasses and shrubs. The guanaco lives in groups of females and their young and one adult male. It can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. The guanaco is a protected species in Chile and Peru. The llama and the alpaca are descended from the guanaco. The llama was domesticated from the guanaco 4,000-5,000 years ago. Llama were used as pack animals. The llama is 5.5-6 feet tall from head to toe. It has two toes on its padded feet and can easily grip the rocky surfaces in its mountain habitat. The llama has long, shaggy fur. Its fur can vary in color from reddish-brown, to white, black, brown, or a combination of colors. Llama fur is used to make clothes. The alpaca was also domesticated from the guanaco.

The alpaca is slightly smaller than the llama. It is about 5 feet tall from its head to its toes. It looks like the llama. Unlike the llama, the alpaca is not used as a pack animal, but its soft, shaggy fur is used to make clothing. The vicugna is found in the plains and grasslands of the Andes Mountains. It is the smallest member of the camelidae family. It is three feet tall from shoulder to feet. It has a slender body; a long neck; thin legs; and long, silky fur. It is a reddish-brown on its uppersides and white on its undersides. It has a mane of hair on its chest. The the vicugna is also known as the vicuña. World Status Key Did you know that camels were domesticated more than 3,000 years ago? Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Alpacas spit when they are angry.

Source: Los Angeles Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes The native range of the alpaca is the central and southern Andes from Peru to Argentina. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes All domestic camels are descended from the Bactrian camel. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No All domestic camels are descended from the Bactrian camel. Source: BBC Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Wild Bactrian camels live in northwestern China and Mongolia. Wild Bactrian camels are critically endangered. Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Bactrian camels can drink 30 gallons of water in just 13 minutes. Yikes! Source: Los Angeles Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Bactrian camels have two humps.

Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Bactrian Camel - Camelus ferus Bactrian camels have pads on their knees that protect their skin when they kneel on the rocky ground. Source: Minnesota Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Bactrian Camel - Camelus ferus Camels are called the 'ship of the desert'. They have been domesticated as beasts of burden longer than any other mammal. Source: Utah's Hogle Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Bactrian camels can reach seven feet in height and weigh up to 1,500 pounds. Source: Lincoln Park Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Wild Bactrian camels are adapted to handle the extreme temperature changes found in the wild. Source: Chicago Zoological Society Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Long eyelashes and elongated nostrils protect Bactrian camels from blowing dust and sand. Source: St.

Louis Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes The Bactrian camel's two humps contain fat, not water. Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Dromedary - Camelus dromedarius The dromedary's hump stores up to 80 pounds of fat that a camel can break down into water and energy when food and water is not available. Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Dromedary - Camelus dromedarius The Arabian camel eats plants. They have a leathery mouth that lets them eat thorns and dry vegetation. Yum! Source: The Living Desert Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Dromedary - Camelus dromedarius The dromedary eat practically anything that grows in the desert, including salty plants rejected by other grazers. Source: Oakland Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes The dromedary has one hump.

Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes The dromedary has padded feet that help it walk on the hot sand! Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No This South American animal is related to camels and, like camels, they were were domesticated. Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Guanaco - Lama guanicoe 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. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Guanaco - Lama guanicoe The guanaco is found from southern Peru down the Andean zone of Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and Navarino Island. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Guanacos are usually found in small herds or loosely structured family groups.

Source: Animal Planet Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No The scientific name for llama is Llama glama! That's just fun to say! Source: Brandywine Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes The llama has a four-chambered stomach. Source: Honolulu Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Llama - Lama glama The llamas native range is the Andes mountains, but they are no longer not found in the wild. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes The vicuña is the smallest member of the camelid family. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No The vicuña lies in the Andes of southern Peru, western Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and northern Chile. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes The vicuña's coat is very thick and traps warm air.

Source: Edinburgh Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Explore the Natural World - Local & National PBS Video Quick Links Vicugna vicugna (Vicugna, Vicuna, Vicuña) Home » Vicugna vicugna (Vicugna, Vicuna, Vicuña) Vicugna vicugna Lichtenstein, G., Baldi, R., Villalba, L., Hoces, D., Baigún, R. & Laker, J. Reviewer(s): Baldi, R.& Wheeler, J. (South American Camelid Red List Authority) Justification: This species is considered to be Least Concern due to an estimated large populations, wide range and occurrence in a number of protected areas. According to the former (1996) classification, Vicuñas were Low Risk/conservation dependent. Under the current criteria, this classification does not hold any more and they should be classified as Least Concern due to the overall population size. It is important to note that conservation programmes and tight control at local, national and international levels are key for the conservation of the species.

Given the degree of poaching, the development of captive management schemes, economic interests for hybridizing Vicuñas and Alpacas, uncertainties about the impact of climate change on the already poor vicuna habitat, and the deterioration of grasslands due to overgrazing by domestic livestock, unless conservation actions are in place, the species might decline its numbers again. Previously published Red List assessments: 1996 – Lower Risk/conservation dependent (LR/cd) Geographic Range [top] Range Description: Vicuñas occur in an area of approximately 250,000 km² in the Puna and Altoandina biogeographic provinces of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Ecuador has a population of 2,683 individuals resulting from a donation from Peru, Chile and Bolivia. The Vicuña is found in a range that extends from 9°30'S in the Ancash Department of Peru to 29°30'S in Region III of Chile. In the case of Argentina, Vicuñas are found in the provinces of Jujuy, Catamarca, Salta, La Rioja and San Juan (with relictual populations in the province of Tucumán).

In Peru they are found in the departments of Ancash, Huanuco, Cerro de Pasco, Junin, Lima, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Ica, Apurimac Arequipa, Cusco, Puno, Moquegua and Tacna, in Ecuador they occur at the Reserva de Produccion de Fauna Chimborazo. In Bolivia, Vicuña populations occur in 5 out of 9 Bolivian departments: La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Potosí and Tarija. Two subspecies are present in Chile and Bolivia, the northern Vicugna vicugna mensalis, and the southern Vicugna vicugna vicugna. Argentina holds only Vicugna vicugna vicugna, and Peru Vicugna vicugna mensalis. Countries occurrence: Population [top] Population: According to the National Census (2008), Vicunas in Argentina inhabit an area of 123,001 km². The provinces with the highest vicuna populations are Jujuy and Catamarca, and La Rioja the province with the lowest population.

Thirty four percent of the areas of distribution of Vicuñas occur in 10 protected areas that have different degrees of implementation. The total population size of Vicuñas was estimated as 127,072 using the lowest estimate with the line transect method, in those strata where sampling was considered representative (53,578 km²). In comparison with previous data, Vicuña population was stable in La Rioja and San Juan, and increased in Salta, Catamarca and Jujuy. There was evidence of poaching in the five of these provinces (Dirección de Fauna Silvestre, Secretaria de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nacion, 2008). In Bolivia, the largest concentration is found in the northern section, specifically in the 'Area Natural de Manejo Integrado Nacional Apolobamba' (formerly Ulla Ulla National Wildlife Reserve) (10,350 animals, according to the 2006 census). In the most southern section of its distribution, Vicuña populations are isolated and dispersed in small groups.

According to the Bolivian governmental report there are 17,845 Vicuñas under protected areas (2006 report to the Vicuña Convention, Quito). Morphological observations give reason to believe that both Vicuña subspecies are present in the country, corresponding to the northern and southern subspecies referred to by Hofmann et al. (1983). Species density in the northern populations in semi-humid high-Andes habitats, is relatively high (0.065 vic/ha); while it is average to low in the semi-humid Puna (0.006 vic/ha) (DNCB 1996). Ninety-five percent of the Vicuñas in Chile are concentrated in the I Region (Tarapacá) in the Comunas of General Lagos and Parinacota. There are three protected areas: Parque Nacional Lauca, Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas, and Monumento Nacional Salar de Surire. Peru has the largest Vicuña population in the entire Andean region, with over half of the total population of the species.

Although its conservation has faced difficulties, surveys carried out by the Consejo Nacional de Camélidos Sudamericanos (CONACS) over 70,000 km² in the years 1994, 1997 and 2000 indicate that the population has been growing to almost 120,000 individuals. Pampa Galeras National Reserve has the largest concentration in Peru, with a population size estimated in 1965 to be between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals. Currently the population is Pampa Galeras surpasses 65,000 animals. Total Population Size Population Size: 347,273 individuals (see below for census numbers). However, it is difficult to assess the confidence of the estimate as data from different countries were obtained using different methodology. As a general rule, it is recommended to use the distance sampling method, either for ground or aerial surveys, as it is based on more realistic assumptions than the fixed-width strip transect methods which tend to underestimate population numbers (Buckland et al. 2001).

However, where numbers are too low, as in relict populations, total counts or less systematics methods can be appropriate. Also, extrapolation of local densities to larger areas must be careful and made according to sampling effort. Accurate estimates of local densities are not sufficient at the time to estimate abundance for larger areas unless the sampling effort is properly disseminated throughout the region. Country: Vicuña population Habitat and Ecology [top] Habitat and Ecology: Vicuña distribution is restricted to the Puna and Altoandina biogeographical provinces at altitudes of 3,200 to 4,800 m asl. Its habitat consists mainly of six different vegetation types: halophytic, tundra marsh (called vegas in Chile and Argentina, bofedales in Bolivia and puquios in Peru, a marshy area associated with ground water, lagoons or streams), grassy steppes, prairies, shrub steppes, and rolling shrub steppes (tolares) supporting cacti (Pujalte and Reca, 1985).

Preference for marshy areas was also reported by Glade (1987), Lucherini (1996) and Villalba (2000). While Vicuña territories include wetlands, they are often located near hillsides. It has been reported that Vicuña use steep slopes as a means of escaping from some predators, and that they use dry areas on "moderate slopes, well downhill from ridge tops" as places to spend the night. Additionally the bases of slopes are often good places for grazing because the soil there is deeper and moister than soils up on the slope (Koford 1957). Vicuñas spend the night and early morning on the slopes. Later in the morning, they descend to the vegas/puquios where they graze extensively, before returningto the slopes late in the afternoon (Glade 1987; Renaudeau d'Arc et al. 2000). Vicuñas are usually found within two kilometers of water (Koford 1957).

Systems: Use and Trade [top] Use and Trade: An important percentage of the fibre results from the capture of individuals, shearing the fibre and releasing them again in the wild (wild management). Threats [top] Major Threat(s): Vicuña poaching is problematic in all four countries. The difficulty of controlling is related to the vast extent of the Puna, its topography and the existence of long international borders. Limited human, economic and technical resources make control ineffective. Several laws and decrees within the countries establish protected areas for the species; prohibit hunting, commercialization and transportation or manufacturing of parts or products from hunted animals. But judges and law-enforcement officials are not always aware of the legislation concerning protection of biodiversity, resulting in differing interpretations and applications of the law, and unduly light punishments. Many of the protected areas are "paper parks". Most of the countries lack National Management plans. This is a threat to effective Vicuña conservation; without standardized and verifiable criteria for conservation and management of the Vicuña, multiple management plans for implementation may be approved without any reference to minimum sustainability criteria for conservation. There are no specific laws concerning animal welfare relevant to the management of Vicuña.

This too may pose a threat to long-term sustainability. Measures to reduce or discourage poaching are clearly essential. One is the application of tight controls not only in the producer countries but also in the importing countries. A related measure is transparency in the provision of information concerning the legal market for Vicuña fibre, e.g. prices at auction, buyers, and producers (Mc Neill, Lichtenstein and Renaudeau d'Arc in press). Corruption and lack of human and economic resources make it very difficult to control exports, and vicuña fibre and products are smuggled in large quantities to Europe or Asia. It is also possible that illegal fibre is smuggled between Andean countries (e.g. from Argentina to Bolivia) as a first step to being illegally exported to international markets. The fibres of different species of camelids are relatively similar (to the non-specialist), so that personnel with special training and even laboratory equipment is required to identify fibre to species level. Management of Vicuñas in captivity proved to be quite negative towards Vicuña conservation in the wild (Lichtenstein et al. 2002, Lichtenstein 2006).

Use and conservation-oriented management of wild populations is desirable if based on sound scientific information. Local people in the altiplano consider Vicuñas to be competitors of domestic livestock, do not tolerance their presence and may be a highly significant factor influencing vicuña distribution (Cueto et al. 1985, Lichtenstein and Renaudeau d'Arc 2004). In addition, habitat-loss caused by over-grazing by domestic livestock and human activities such as mining, and subsequent pollution of rivers and sources of water are further threats to the species (Laker et al. 2006). The incidence of mange/scabies in vicuñas should be evaluated, particularly in those regions where livestock (native and exotic) has important presence. Climate change will probably have a detrimental impact in the fragile ecosystem where Vicuñas occur since they are in the limits of habitable environments. Assessment of the effects of climate change on Vicuñas is a priority.

A new potential threat, both in the Andes and worldwide, is the breeding of pacovicuña (an Alpaca/Vicuña hybrid) for commercial purposes (Lichtenstein, Hoces and Wheeler presentations to the Vicuña Convention: Conservation Actions [top] Conservation Actions: Four decades ago, the Vicuña was one of the most threatened species in South America. Due to the over-hunting only a few thousand individuals existed. The implementation of the Vicuña Convention was fundamental in the recovery of the species. In 1987, during the Sixth CITES Conference of the Parties, Peru obtained for the first time, along with other countries, the authorization to internationally trade fabrics made from vicuña wool from live sheared animals, This species is listed on CITES Appendix I, except for the populations listed on Appendix II. Currently various Vicuña populations are included in the Appendix II of CITES.

These are found in Argentina (the populations of the Provinces of Jujuy and Catamarca and the semi-captive populations of the Provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja and San Juan), the whole population in Bolivia, in Chile (the population of the Primera Región), and the whole population in Peru. Appendix II allows, under strict regulations between exporting and importing countries, the trade in wool and derived products. All other populations are included in Appendix I. The Vicuña Convention was implemented in each country in accordance with its own National Legislation. The ownership status of the Vicuña varies somewhat; as a wild species, it is the property of the State in Peru and Bolivia, and res nullius (without owner) in Chile and Argentina. Although all the conservation aspects of the Vicuña Convention are embodied in National Laws and Decrees in all four countries, this is not always the case as regards granting benefits to local people. In Argentina, there are six Vicuña conservation areas in the northwest, most are managed by the provincial government.

The Ley Nacional de Fauna 22,421 provides a legal framework at the federal level, there are also provincial laws both for wildlife in general and specific for vicuna. Since 1980, Vicuñas have been reported in 38 areas along the Bolivian high plateau. These areas have been nominated Vicuña Protection Areas (VPA) and have been grouped into nine Conservation and Management Units; within these, there are four protected areas but with different levels of implementation; the vicuña population in Bolivia remains insecure due to the lack of continuity of conservation actions undertaken a few years ago. The Vicuña population in Chile has shown some recovery, which greatly reduces the risk of extinction that was very high until a few years ago. There are two geographical forms, but their precise identification still requires deeper scientific analysis. At present, the Chilean Forest Service (Corporación Nacional Forestal, CONAF) carries out annual census work in approximately 1.5 million hectares, maintains personnel in six guard stations, supports several research projects, and runs a long-term environmental education program through various communication media. There are four conservation areas inhabited by Vicuña in Chile. Two more have been proposed and others are currently being studied.

In addition, a management zone has been established in private lands in which periodic censuses have been carried out during the last few years. In Peru the Vicuña is protected, at national level, in all the operational areas of the Ministry of Agriculture's Special Project for Rational Utilization of the Vicuña. This Special Project contains six subprojects: Huaraz, Huancayo, Pampa Galeras, Cusco, Arequipa, and Puno which includes Huascaran National Park, Pampa Galeras National Reserve, and Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. These three conservation areas are incorporated in the National System of Natural Protected Areas of Peru (SINANPE). Local communities participate on the entire process of management and conservation of the populations and use of the sheared wool. The responsible authority is the CONACS (National Council on South American Camelids) and the local communities. Citation: Lichtenstein, G., Baldi, R., Villalba, L., Hoces, D., Baigún, R. & Laker, J. 2008. Vicugna vicugna.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T22956A9402796. . Downloaded on 20 January 2017. Disclaimer: vicuna | mammal | Britannica.com mammal Vicuña, (Lama, or Vicugna, vicugna), South American member of the camel family, Camelidae (order Artiodactyla), that is closely related to the alpaca , guanaco , and llama (known collectively as lamoids). Depending on the authority, the llama, alpaca, and guanaco may be classified as distinct species of llama (Lama glama). Because of differences in the incisor teeth, however, some authorities place the vicuña in a separate genus, Vicugna. Most vicuñas inhabit Peru , with smaller numbers found in Bolivia , Chile , and Argentina . Vicuña (Lama, or Vicugna, vicugna).

Alexandre Buisse The vicuña is covered with a remarkably long, fine, soft, and lustrous coat that varies in colour from light cinnamon to a pale white, with long white fleece hanging from the lower flanks and the base of the neck. The annual yield of fleece sheared from domesticated vicuñas shows a wide range of from 85 to 550 g (3 to 20 ounces) per animal . Vicuña fibre is strong and resilient , but it is highly sensitive to chemicals and is generally used in its natural colour. The costly fibre is made into high-priced coats, dressing gowns, and shawls. The dense, silky fleece of the vicuña, once reserved for the Incan nobility, provides excellent insulation against the temperature fluctuations the animal encounters in its natural habitat: semiarid grasslands in the central Andes at altitudes of 3,600–4,800 m (12,000–16,000 feet).

A swift, graceful animal, the vicuña is the smallest of the camelids, with a shoulder height of about 90 cm (36 inches) and a weight of about 50 kg (110 pounds). When in danger, they emit a high, clear whistle. Vision and hearing are more highly developed than their sense of smell. Like guanacos, vicuñas are wild, with temperaments that preclude domestication. The animals graze on low grasses and ruminate while resting. They travel in small bands of females, usually led by a male who acts as lookout and defends his territory against intruders. Vicuñas use communal dung heaps to mark their territorial boundaries. They spit frequently and noisily, like all lamoids. A single young, born in February about 11 months after the parents have mated, remains close to the mother for at least 10 months. The life expectancy is about 15 to 20 years. Similar Topics Vicuna / Antelope & Relatives - Animals and Pets Pictures - Movies, Images, Photos & Information Animals and Pets pictures What are you looking for?

Animals Information Vicuna The stormproof camel of the Andes Camels inhabiting the Andes in South America? Sounds quite surprising! Thinking of camels, the One-humped camel or Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and the Two-humped camel or Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) from the African and Asian deserts come to one's mind. But these tall camel species have close relatives in South America - the smaller Llamas or South American camels. This group consists of just two species too: the Guanaco (Lama guanacoë), the wild ancestor of the domestic Llama and Alpaca, and the even smaller and daintier Vicuna (Lama vicugna). Reaching a length of about 1,5 m, a shoulder height of almost one metre and a weight of 55 kg, the Vicuna is the smallest camel species. Besides their size the South American camels differ from the African and Asian species in many markings: Among other things they don't have fat storages in the form of humps and are not able to endure without water for a longer time.

Their hoofs are thinner and firmer than the ones of the Dromedary and the Bactrian camel, an adaptation to their habitat. The sandy soil of the deserts and semi-deserts, where the African and Asian species live, requires broad and soft soles to prevent the heavy animals from subsiding. There's a large layer of soft connective tissue on the soles of the Dromedary and the Bactrian camel. But the Vicuna and the Guanaco inhabit plateaus of the Andes with quite stony ground, which requires thin and firm hoofs. The fur of the Vicuna varies from yellowish brown to reddish brown - belly, chest, flanks and the insides of the legs are whitish. Their neck is quite long and thin, their head large and plump with a short muzzle. The ears are long and the eyes are very large. Both are the major sense organs of the permanent vigilant Vicunas. The area, which is inhabited by the Vicunas, the so called Altiplano, is an arid and cold mountain habitat at an altitude of 3700 to 5500 metres, above the timber line but below the snow line.

It's a flat, at most slightly hilly landscape, dominated by grass plants and often struck by heavy storms. The Altiplano is an area of very little rain, still water is available - an important precondition for the presence of Vicunas. It's originated by the dew of nightly fogs. Because of the Altiplano's altitude, the air is quite low in oxygen. That is why Vicunas are in need of a very efficient blood circulation system to supply their cells with sufficient oxygen. Their heart is about 50% larger than the ones of mammals of similar size and their red blood corpuscles show some adaptations too. Vicunas feed on the grass plants, which characterize the Altiplano. The incisors get worn out very soon by the hard food, but they are growing continuously - another special adaptation of the Vicuna. All camel species ruminate, but don't belong to the phylogenetic group of the "real" ruminants. Both groups developed the ability to ruminate independently to exploit their nutrition, which is very low in energy content, more efficiently. Vicunas live in family groups with five to twenty members.

Another form of social organization is the only-male-group, consisting exclusively of males, sometimes in large numbers. Besides these groups there are solitary males too. The family group is dominated by an adult male, which keeps itself apart from the harem and the young most of the time. The family group is territorial and marks its territory by heaps of faeces, which are used by all members of the group. Vicunas crossing the territory's borders from the outside are attacked by the male and driven out. But it may also happen, that another adult male proves to be stronger than the group-male. In such a case the new male takes the territory and the harem and the old male is driven out. The well-developed young are born after a long pregnancy of almost one year. The time they stay together with the family group is relativly short; young males are driven out at an age of four to nine months, whereas young females may stay until they are almost one year old. Vicunas reach a maximum age of 20 years. The relationship between man and the Vicuna has been and still is quite diverse.

Some native tribes inhabiting the Andes, honoured the Vicuna as a holy animal, whereas other tribes just saw a valuable bag in it. Already at the time of the advanced civilization of the Incas the use of the Vicunas wool played an important role. For the Spanish conquerors the wool was of great value too. As long as the animals have just been caught, shorn and then released again, the stocks of the Vicuna were not in danger. But they also have been hunted and killed for their fur, resulting in a continuous decline of their numbers. Already in 1825 Simón Bolívar, the founder of the state of Peru, enacted a law to protect the Vicuna. This is why the Vicuna achieved a symbolic status in Peru. But in spite of all efforts, like the setting-up of nature reserves, the Vicuna is still classified as endangered nowadays. But if the efforts for its preservation are continued consistently, there is a good chance for the Vicuna to go on inhabiting its bleak Altiplano.

Rate: Blue Wildebeest / Brindled Gnu (Connochaetes taurinus) Adult blue wildebeest vary in color, from deep slate or bluish gray, through light gray to brown-gray. The main coat is slightly lighter in color than the underparts. Dark brown vertical bands mark the neck and forequarters, and from a distance may seem to be wrinkles in the skin. Young are born tawny brown, and begin to take on their adult coloration at 2 months of age. Both sexes possess ... Rate: Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) Order: Artiodactyla, Family: Bovidae The Tibetan antelope, or Chiru, is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. It is found between Ngoring Hu in China and the Ladakh region in India. Its range once extended to western Nepal, but none have been seen in Nepal for several years. Rate: Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana) Order: Artiodactyla, Family: Antilocapridae Occurs from southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan, Canada through the western United States to Hidalgo, Baja California, and western Sonora, Mexico.

Rate: Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) Order: Artiodactyla, Family: Bovidae Greater kudus weigh between 265 and 700 pounds. The greater kudu is one of the tallest antelopes, with a shoulder height ranging from 3.3 feet to 5 feet. Greater kudus have the largest horns in the bushbuck tribe, averaging 4 feet in length. Body color varies from reddish brown to blue-gray, with the darkest individuals found in the southern populations. The color of the males darkens with ... Rate: Wapiti / Elk (Cervus elaphus) Order: Artiodactyla, Family: Cervidae Large, deerlike, the males with large, usually six-pointed antlers that are shed annually; hair on neck long and shaggy; upperparts buffy fawn, the head, neck, legs and belly dull rusty brown to blackish; large rump patch creamy buff to whitish; metatarsal gland oval, about 75 mm long, the center white; tail a mere rudiment.

Dental formula: I 0/3, C 1/1, Pm 3/3, M 3/3 X 2 = 34. External measuremen... Rate: Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) Red hartebeest vary in color from rich reddish brown to yellowish fawn, with a darker saddle from the shoulders to the base of the tail, broadening out over the rump. The top of its muzzle and forehead are black, and it has a black stripe on the front of its shoulders that continues down onto its forelegs, and black high on its hind legs (Liechtenstein's hartebeest lacks these markings.). ... Rate: Alpaca Facts Andes of central Peru to western Bolivia. Natural Habitat: Alpine grassland, meadows and marshes. Physical Appearance: Physical appearance may slightly vary depending on geographic area. The Alpaca is basically a Vicuna with hair. Domesticated, but too small to carry heavy loads, alpacas are raised for their heavy coats of long fine wool and in South America for their meat.

Reproduction: Alpacas are seasonal breeders and mate lying down on their chests, copulation lasting 10 ‑ 20 minutes. They are induced ovulators, give birth to only a single offspring in a standing position and neither lick the newborn nor eat the afterbirth. The newborn is mobile and following its mother within 15 ‑ 30 minutes. The female comes into heat again 24 hours after birth, but usually does not mate for two weeks. STATUS in Natural Habitat: Stable. There are some wild herds. Cool Fact: Alpacas are most closely related to the vicuna. They are the smallest domesticated camelid. Vicuña - Animal Facts and Information Posted by BioExpedition | Apr 10, 2012 | Animals , Mammals | Vicuña Facts and Information Vicugna vicugna Introduction to Vicuña The Vicuña is considered to be a wild type of Camelid. They are very closely related to both Llamas and Alpacas . They produce wool that is very fine. This can also be very expensive because the animals can only have their wool removed every 3 years. This animal is the National symbol of Peru.

Vicuña Description The Vicuña offers wool that is very long and very fine. It is brown in color but the shades of it can significantly vary. They also have areas of white on their sides and on their legs. The face is white as well. They have a small head with very small ears. The body of the Vicuña can range in length to a size of about 5 feet. They are about 3 feet tall with a mature weight of about 150 pounds. Class Least Concern Vicuña Distribution South America is home to the Vicuña. They live in the very high regions of the Andes. They are found throughout Peru, Bolivia, northwest Argentina and the Northern part of Chile. The largest number of them live in Peru. Thanks to human efforts there are now numbers of them living in Ecuador as well. Vicuña Behavior The Vicuña is very graceful in its movement. During the day they are on the plains but at night they move into the slopes of the Andes. They are able to live in the cold night time temperatures even though their wool is very thin. Their bodies allow them to trap heat from the sunlight during the day to their skin and that keeps them warm through the night.

They are very shy and they listen well to their surroundings. By doing so they are alerted to any threats or problems in their environment. They live in herds that have a dominant male and up to 15 females. They also include the young that those females are carrying for. Vicuña – Vicugna vicugna Vicuña Feeding The grassy plains serve as the feeding locations for the Vicuña. They eat the grass that is very low to the ground. What they feed on is in clumps and often it is what other animals have left behind. They do move around often as they eat and that prevents problems with areas being over grazed. They are often seen licking rocks to get enough salt. They will also consume salt water. They can go for several days at a time without any water. Their bodies do need salt though. If they don’t get water that offers it rocks are very simple to find in their environment. Vicuña Reproduction The dominant male is the only one that can mate with the females in the herd. However, that leader changes very often. Bachelor males that are strong and healthy will fight with the dominant leaders for that position.

If they are successful they will take over the herd and that previous leader will wonder off alone. March and April are the months when mating will take place. After mating it takes up to 11 months for the young to arrive. It is very typical for them to only be 1 but there can occasionally be 2 born. The young will feed on milk for about 10 months but stay with the mother until it is about 18 months old. Vicuña Conservation In 1974 the Vicuña was considered in very serious danger of becoming extinct. There were only about 6,000 of them left. Thanks to conservation efforts though their numbers have increased. Today there are about 350,000 of them in the wild so they are no longer considered to be at risk. However, there are still laws in place to protect them from poaching. Vicuña Facts and Information Vicuña Vicuña Citation: Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chile, p. 313. Type locality: Chile, cordilleras of Coquimbo and Copiapo.

Click on the pictures above for a larger view of the photographs General Characteristics Body Length: 138-151 cm / 4.6-5 ft. Shoulder Height: 86-96 cm / 2.8-3.2 ft. Tail Length: 23 cm / 9.2 in. Weight: 45-55 kg / 99-121 lb. The overall colour of the soft wooly coat is ochre, light cinnamon, or reddish brown, with the underparts, insides of the legs, and underside of the head being dirty white. On the chest, at the base of the neck, is a peculiar, pompon-like 'mane' of silky white hairs which may be 20-30 cm / 8-12 inches in length. The vicuña is extremely slender, with long skinny limbs and neck. The head is small and wedge shaped, with small, triangular ears. Unique among living artiodactyls, the incisors of the vicuña are constantly growing, with enamel on only one side, to keep up with the wear caused by the tough grasses on which they feed.

Ontogeny and Reproduction Sexual Maturity: Around 24 months. Life span: 20 years, maximum age of 24 years, 9 months in captivity. In the wild, breeding occurs in March/April, with births taking place in February and March. Just 15 minutes after birth the young can stand and walk. Ecology and Behavior A principally diurnal species, vicuñas have a unique system of territoriality. A day-time territory is used for grazing, and is connected to a higher sleeping territory by an undefended corridor. Together, the two territories cover 7-30 hectares, marked by dung heaps. Families are close-knit, with the dominant male keeping individuals within 50 meters / 160 feet of each other at all times. In addition, these family groups are closed - with immigration virtually eliminated by the dominant male. Juveniles of both sexes are evicted from the group by the reigning male - young males at 4-9 months, and females at 10-11 months of age. Communal latrines are used by each family group. Very shy and constantly alert, vicuñas will flee at the slightest sign of danger.

They can run at nearly 50 kmph / 30 mph at elevations of 4,500 meters / 15,000 feet, aided by a heart which is almost 50% larger than the average weight for similar sized mammals. The warning call is a high soprano whistle. Vicuñas must drink daily - an important factor used when determining a family's range. Family group: Families of 5-20 animals with a single adult male, several females, and youngsters. All-male bachelor herds and solitary males are also known. Diet: Grasses. Main Predators: Humans, puma, Magellan fox. Distribution Grasslands at elevations of 3,500-5,800 meters / 11,700-19,300 feet in the Andes mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. Range Map (Redrawn from CITES, 2000) Conservation Status The vicuña is a low risk, conservation dependent species (IUCN, 1996). The two subspecies, V. v. mensalis and V.v.

vicugna both fall under this same threat category. Remarks The genus Vicugna was once included in Lama. The vicuña, the smallest of the camelids, have had an interesting relationship with humans over time. In their time, the Incas would round up wild vicuñas every 3 to 5 years to shear them, releasing them afterwards, and using the soft wool to make fabrics for nobility. With the conquest of Peru, the wool and hide of the vicuña became highly desired by the Spanish, and more than 80,000 vicuñas were slaughtered annually. When liberation from Spanish rule came in 1825, vicuñas became a symbol in Peru and was protected by law. Poaching, however, continued well into the 20th Century, when several preserves were set aside for these remarkable ungulates. Vicuña is a Peruvian name for this tylopod. Literature Cited CITES. 2000. Proposal 11.27: Transfer of all populations of vicuña Vicugna vicugna from Appendix I. Available online at Franklin, W. L. and W. Herre. 1990.

South American Tylopods. In Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Edited by S. P. Parker. New York: McGraw-Hill. Volume 5, pp. 96-111. Nowak, R. M. [editor]. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World (Fifth Edition). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder [editors]. 1993. Mammal Species of the World (Second Edition). Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. Available online at

Question: The vicuna is the smallest species of which group of animals?
Answer: CAMELS