Vicuña facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vicuña |
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Vicugna
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V. vicugna
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| Vicugna vicugna (Molina, 1782)
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The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) is a fascinating animal from South America. It is one of two wild camelids found there. The vicuña is the smallest of all camelids, which include llamas and alpacas. These animals have a long and interesting history with people.
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What Does a Vicuña Look Like?
The vicuña has a very soft, wooly coat. Its main color is usually a light brown, like ochre or reddish-brown. The lower part of its body, the inside of its legs, and the underside of its head are white.
Special Features of the Vicuña
On its chest, near its neck, the vicuña has a 'mane' of long white hairs. These hairs can be 20 to 30 centimeters (8 to 12 inches) long! The vicuña is a very slim animal. It has a long neck and thin legs. Its head is small and shaped like a wedge. The ears are small and triangular.
A unique thing about the vicuña is its front teeth, called incisors. They never stop growing! The vicuña is the only even-toed ungulate (an animal with an even number of toes, like deer or cows) that has teeth that keep growing. This is because the enamel (the hard outer layer of the tooth) is only on one side. This special feature helps them eat the tough grasses they find in their habitat.
Where Do Vicuñas Live?
Vicuñas live in the high Andes mountains of South America. You can find them in countries like Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. They prefer grasslands at very high elevations. They live between 3,500 and 5,800 meters (11,700 to 19,300 feet) above sea level. That's really high up!
Images for kids
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Herd of vicuñas near Arequipa, Peru
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Vicuña near Chimborazo in Ecuador
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A vicuña on rocky terrain (2008)
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Vicuñas on road to El Tatio geysers, San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region, Chile (2011)
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Vicuña in Jujuy Province in the Argentine Altiplano (2011)
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Vicuña fawn in the Atacama Desert (2014)
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Vicunas in Salar de Chalviri, Bolivia
See also
In Spanish: Vicuña para niños
