The Vicuna is one of the four relatives that are related to the llama. It is also one of the two wild relatives. It is smaller than the llama and is known for it's beautiful and valuble fleece. Most vicunas have a reddish color on their backs and they are white on their bellies and on their legs. On average they generate 5 ounces of fleece a year. The Vicuna's fur is the finest out of all fleece bearing animals. Currently it lives in the Andes, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru normally at about snow level. They are the smallest cousin of the llamas and are about 2 1/2 to 3 feet and weighs 70 to 140 lbs. Their herd mainly consists of one male and many females.

Vicuna mothers will almost always have their babies in the morning. It is better this way because then they have a chance to dry off before it turns to night. Vicunas have died because they froze to death when they were born late during the day.

In the 1960's vicunas were killed for their beautiful fur and only royalty could where it. Now some countries where vicunas are rare, protect them.  As you see below these Peruvian coins have vicunas on them.