V Is For Vicuna
The vicuña is related to alpacas and llamas, and is native to Chile. Its valuable but slow-growing fleece has led it to become endangered. The fleece is often felted, making a type of wool used for coats and other outerwear.
Vicuna, 3 Week Old Babies Group Together, Peruvian Andes
Mark Jones
24x18 Photographic Print
Vicuñas are members of the Camelidae family, which makes them related to llamas, alpacas and the guanaco. The vicuña is among the smaller members of this group, coming in at just under three feet tall at the shoulder. The vicuñas teeth grow continuously, like with many rodents. They have to gnaw and eat to wear them down.
Their native habitat are the Andean mountains of Chile. Much like other mountain goats and sheep, their hooves give them sure footing on rocky slopes and their wooly coats keep them warm even at high elevations. It's fleece can be shorn and spun into a fine wool, but only once every two to three years.
These animals were declared endangered in 1974, as the population had dropped to only about 6,000 animals! Their populations have been restored so that they now number in the 100,000s which has led some environmental groups to classify them as protected, but agencies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature still consider them to be endangered.
What do Vicuñas eat?
The vicuña is a vegetarian. They graze on grass and chew their cub like cows do.
Books and More about other Andean Animals
About Vicuñas
- Vicuña - Vicugna vicugna
Vicuna - Vicugna vicugna, description, common names, scientific names, behavior, diet, range, habitats and life cycle. - Vicunas.Com Home Page
Welcome to Vicunas.Com (Site Under Construction)This Site Will Present Information from a Variety of Vicuña Authorities. In Spanish and English - Vicunas! Vicuna Facts and Information.
Vicuna information, photos and facts from Eric Hoffman, co-author of the Alpaca Book and author of the Alpaca Registry. - Vicuña
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 s - Vicuña Ecology and Management.
A review of the distribution, habitat selection, social organization, fine wool and management of the vicuña. - Vicuña - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) is one of 2 wild South American camelids, along with the guanaco, which lives in the high alpineous areas of the Andes. It is a relative of the llama and the alpaca. Vicuñas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool. - Vicunas making a comeback in Peru - Taipei Times - archives
Hundreds of villagers march side by side along the wind-blasted Andean plain, closing in on their prey: herds of nervous, fast-moving vicunas, the smaller, wilder cousins of llamas and alpacas. Chanting and shaking a rope with colorful streamers, - Vicugna vicugna
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 app
