In captivity, the longest known lifespan is 33.7 years (Tacuta et al., 2013). Bachelor males form separate herds. Guanaco Distribution. Where do Guanaco live? While reproductive groups tend to remain small, often containing no more than 10 adults, bachelor herds may contain as many as 50 males. One teaspoon contains roughly 68 million red blood cells. 5. Guanacos live in herds composed of females, their young, and a dominant male. A natural enemy of the guanaco in the wild is the puma. They have a very long neck. Guanacos are known to live in high altitudes of up to 4000 meters above sea level. Guanacos live in herds composed of females, their young, and a dominant male. In order to survive at such a low oxygen level, guanaco blood has four times the number of red blood cells that we humans have! When guanacos mate and give birth depends on where the live. You will find them in intensely arid regions as well as in very rainy regions. Young males live in large bachelor herds of up to 50 animals. Guanacos and vicunas are wild animals, but llamas and alpacas have been domesticated, like cats and dogs, and were probably bred from guanacos. They live very high up in the Andes Mountains – up to 13,000 feet. Occasionally, they even reside in temperate forest settings, particularly during the cold winter months. The Guanaco is found living in the very Southern part of Tierra del Fuego. A guanaco’s typical lifespan is 20 to 25 years. Additionally, their hearts are 15% larger than those of animals of comparable size. Though many reserves have been created in South America to protect the dwindling guanaco populations, guanacos will likely continue to face extinction in countries where their numbers are low since poaching is still a problem. Manuel ROMARIS/Getty Images. Guanacos may live up to 28 years in captivity or in the wild (Franklin, 2011). They have big hearts. In fact, guanacos can live up to 4,000 meters above sea level! Similar to llamas, guanacos are gregarious creatures. When they feel threatened, guanacos alert the herd to flee with a high-pitched, bleating call. They can survive in this low oxygen environment because they have 4x the number of red blood cells (oxygen carrying cells) than humans do. At the age of 5 years, young males fight for dominance and opportunity to create their own herd. What do you end up with? Gestation is about eleven months. Guanacos often live in grasslands, montane areas, shrublands, savannas and steppes. Guanacos are related to camels, as are vicunas, llamas, and alpacas. They are only found in the wild in South America. Guanacos feed mainly on grasses, live in herds, and can be found at altitudes of up to 4000 meters/2.5 miles. A guanaco. They have evolved to be able to run fast from predators because the environments where they live don’t have many hiding spots. Bachelor males form separate herds. They are known to be masters of survival because they do adapt to any environment. #8: Guanacos can run 35 miles an hour, which is almost as fast as a tiger. That’s a guanaco warning call to let others know of the possible presence of a puma. In captivity, the longest known lifespan is 33.7 years. ( Franklin, 2011 ; Tacutu, et al., 2013 ) Guanacos live in large parts of the Andes, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The Guanaco features dark eyes and a dark nose. The ever-practical guanaco has even adapted for efficient eating. But they live in South America, while camels are found in Africa and Asia. When they feel threatened, guanacos alert the herd to flee with a high-pitched, bleating call. While reproductive groups tend to remain small, often containing no more than 10 adults, bachelor herds may contain as many as 50 males. Guanacos have been found living up to 4,000 metres above sea level. 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