Guanaco

Lama guanicoe

A wild South American camelid of grasslands and dry country. It is a close relative of the llama, with a long neck and tawny body.

Key facts

Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a herbivore animal classified as Mammal · Cetartiodactyla · Camelidae.
Primary habitats are grassland · desert · mountains, with a range across Neotropical.
Activity is diurnal, sociality is herd, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A wild South American camelid of grasslands and dry country.
Guanacos inhabit Patagonian steppe, Andean foothills, dry shrubland, and semi-desert.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Guanacos inhabit Patagonian steppe, Andean foothills, dry shrubland, and semi-desert. Open windy landscapes and coarse forage are typical.

They have a tawny back, white belly, grayish face, long neck, and long legs. They are larger than vicuñas and more lightly built than llamas.

They graze by day in groups, with territorial males defending family groups. Alarm calls and fast running help them avoid predators.

They eat grasses, shrubs, herbs, lichens, and cacti. Their flexible diet allows them to use dry habitats with sparse vegetation.

Females bear single young that can follow the mother soon after birth. Young males often leave to join bachelor groups.

Livestock competition and fences affect some populations, but the species remains a characteristic wild herbivore of southern South America.