Vicuña in Bolivia

Until recently, the vicuña was thought to not have been domesticated, as well as the llama and the alpaca were considered descendants of the closely related guanaco. But recent DNA studies have shown the alpaca may well have vicuña parentage. Today, the vicuña is largely wild, but the regional people still perform particular rituals with these animals, including a fertility rite.

The vicuña is considered more delicate and graceful than the guanaco and smaller. A key distinguishing element of morphology is the better-developed incisor roots to the guanaco. The vicuña's long, woolly coat is tawny brown on the back, whereas the hair on the throat and chest is white and quite long. The head is a bit shorter than the guanaco's and the ears are slightly longer. The length of mind and body ranges from 1.45 to 1.60 m (about 5 ft); shoulder height is from 75 to 85 cm (around 3 ft); its weight is from 35 to 65 kg (under 150 lb).