#huanaco

[kusiseminario]

The #Guanaco one of le largest mammals on the Andes are very easy to find on the #torresdelpaine park. This animals that live in large packs are the main food of, I believe, the largest population of cougars. #lamaguanicoe #camelid #huanaco #mammal #outdoors #nature #wildlife #travelphotography #magallanes #patagonia #chile #canon #canon7dmk2 #canon100_400 (en Torres Del Paine National Park)

[ainawgsd]

Guanaco

The guanaco (Lama guanicoe), a camelid native to South America, stands between 3 ft 3 in and 3 ft 11 in at the shoulder and weighs 200 to 310 pounds. Guanacos are the parent species of the domesticated llama. Its color varies very little (unlike the domestic llama), ranging from a light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath. Guanacos have grey faces and small, straight ears. The name guanaco comes from the South American Quechua word huanaco (modern spelling: wanaku). Young guanacos are called chulengos.

Guanaco inhabit both the Pampas plains and mountainous regions of South America. Guanacos live in herds composed of females, their young, and a dominant male. Bachelor males form separate herds. While reproductive groups tend to remain small, often containing no more than 10 adults, bachelor herds may contain as many as 50 males. They can run at 35 miles per hour, often over steep and rocky terrain. They are also excellent swimmers. Guanacos are one of the largest wild mammal species found in South America. Natural predators include cougars, jaguars, and foxes. The guanaco has thick skin on its neck, which helps protect its neck from predator attacks. 

Guanacos are often found at high altitudes, up to 4,000 meters above sea level, except in Patagonia, where the southerly latitude means ice covers the vegetation at these altitudes. For guanacos to survive in the low oxygen levels found at these high altitudes, their blood is rich in red blood cells. A teaspoon of guanaco blood contains about 68 billion red blood cells – four times that of a human.

Some guanacos live in the Atacama Desert, where in some areas it has not rained for over 50 years. A coastline running parallel to the desert enables them to survive. Where the cool water touches the hot land, the air above the desert is cooled, creating a fog and thus, water vapor. Winds carry the fog across the desert, where cacti catch the water droplets and lichens that cling to the cacti soak it in like a sponge. When the guanacos eat the cacti flowers and the lichens, the water is transferred to them.

[comodijo-blog]

[camilafrancisca]

Caminar libre por las grandes alamedas.

[lero-lero]

Camino a Usach @ 2/Febrero on Flickr.