Lama vicugna (vicuña) is a wild South American camelid of the high Andes, occurring in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, with a reintroduced population in Ecuador. It inhabits open, semiarid grasslands and plains generally above 10,000 feet, where dense tawny fleece, a pale chest and underside, and a slender build distinguish it from the larger guanaco. Vicuñas feed mainly on short grasses and remain close to dependable water.

Vicuñas live in territorial family groups led by one adult male, while nonbreeding males form bachelor groups and some older males remain solitary. A sentinel male gives a high alarm call when danger approaches, and the group escapes across open ground at speed. Each female usually produces one young after a gestation of about eleven months. The species was heavily hunted for its exceptionally fine fiber, but coordinated protection and regulated live shearing allowed many populations to recover. International trade remains controlled under CITES, with different national populations placed under Appendix I or Appendix II provisions. Photographed in Colombia.