A wild camelid of open habitats across western and southern South America, from dry grasslands to cold southern regions.
It has a reddish-brown body, white chest, belly and inner legs, and a gray to dark head. Males and females are similar in size and color.
Researchers tracked 21 adult guanacos in Patagonia, Argentina, from 2019 to 2021. Nine animals were followed in multiple years, which were analyzed separately. Of 35 animal-year records, 26 (74.3%) showed altitudinal migration. Summer ranges were 295–1,106 m higher than winter ranges, and migration distances were 5–50 km.
Satellite comparisons showed that 18 migration paths (69%) had more vegetation green-up than staying in either seasonal range; 17 paths (65.4%) also had lower snow-cover readings. Four of the nine animals tracked across years switched between migratory and resident strategies.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species · Least Concern (LC) · Global
The IUCN’s latest global Red List assessment for the guanaco dates to 2016 and lists it as Least Concern, with an increasing overall trend. The assessment cites its continental range, an estimated one million adults, and protected areas. It also notes that persistent illegal hunting can strongly affect small, low-density populations.