| Vicuña | Guanaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Vicugna vicugna | Lama guanicoe |
| Status | wild | wild |
| Height | about 30-35 in (75-90 cm) | about 40-47 in (100-120 cm) |
| Weight | 77-143 lb (35-65 kg) | 200-310 lb (90-140 kg) |
| Lifespan | 15-20 years in the wild | 15-20 years |
| Gestation | about 330-350 days | about 345-360 days |
| Origin | Wild ancestor of the alpaca; high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile | Wild ancestor of the llama; Patagonia to the Andes |
| Population | about 450,000-500,000, recovered from ~6,000 in the 1960s | about 1.5-2.2 million, mostly in Argentina |
| Fiber | The finest animal fiber, about 12-14 µm | Soft undercoat about 16-18 µm with guard hair |
| Used for | Protected wildlife; community live-shearing (chaccu) | Wildlife; sustainable fiber harvest in Argentina |
| Ears | Short | Medium |
| Back & tail | Slender and graceful | Straight |
| Temperament | Wild, territorial family groups | Wild, alert, lives in family groups |
Species profiles
FAQ
What is the difference between a vicuña and a guanaco?
The guanaco is about 2.3× heavier than the vicuña. Vicuña: protected wildlife; community live-shearing (chaccu); Guanaco: wildlife; sustainable fiber harvest in argentina. Vicuñas have short ears; guanacos have medium ears.
Which is bigger, a vicuña or a guanaco?
The guanaco (200-310 lb (90-140 kg)) is bigger than the vicuña (77-143 lb (35-65 kg)).
Can vicuñas and guanacos live together?
Wild camelids are protected wildlife and are not kept on farms.