Guanaco

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The Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) (sometimes spelled Guanco) is an elegant, fine-boned lamoid animal that stands approximately 3 ft 6" (1.06 m) at the shoulder and weighs about 200 lb (90 kg). Like the llama, the guanaco is double coated with a coarse guard hair and soft undercoat, which is even finer and thus more highly prized than that of the alpaca, although they carry far less of it. The colour varies very little, ranging from a light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath. Guanacos have grey faces and small straight ears. They are extremely striking with their large, alert brown eyes, streamlined form, and energetic pace. They are particularly ideal for keeping in large groups in open parklands.

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It is an endangered species; poachers hunt it for its meat, skin, and wool.

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The guanaco is common to South America: in Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. Its average life span is 20-25 years.

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When the Europeans first arrived in South America, there were an estimated half billion guanacos, but current estimates place their numbers at 500,000.

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Guanacos can run with speed of 56 km (35 mi) per hour. The running is important for their survival, because in the open places where they live there is no place to hide.

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Guard hair: Guard hairs are the longest, thickest hairs in a mammal's coat, forming the topcoat (or outer coat). They taper to a point and protect the undercoat from the elements. They are often waterproof and stick out above the rest of the coat....

South America: South America is a part of the American continent traversed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. South America is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean....

Peru: The Republic of Peru, (Spanish: Rep?blica del Per?), or Peru, is a country in western South America, bordering Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Peru is rich in cultural anthropolog...

Guanaco related Images and Photos (experimental)

Guanaco in Torres del Paine National Park Coquimbo Chile