Head to head
Mountain Vizcacha vs Guanaco
Mountain Vizcacha
VS Guanaco
Both mammals share the cold, thin air of the high Andes, but they cope with the conditions in very different ways.
| Mountain Vizcacha | Guanaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lagidium viscacia | Lama guanicoe |
| Classification | A rodent related to chinchillas | A wild camelid |
| Size | Small, rabbit-sized | Much larger |
| Thermoregulation | Basks on sun-warmed rocks | A thick insulating coat |
| Social structure | Colonies among rock outcrops | Family herds led by a dominant male |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Mountains | Grassland, mountains, desert |
Mountain Vizcacha vs Guanaco: common questions
Which one is much larger?
The guanaco is far larger, a substantial wild camelid, compared with the small, rabbit-sized mountain vizcacha.
Which one relies on basking in the sun to stay warm?
The mountain vizcacha does this, spending long periods basking on sun-warmed rocks to conserve energy, while the guanaco instead relies on a thick insulating coat.
Do both live at extreme high altitude?
Yes, both species range across an enormous span of elevation in the Andes and Patagonia, tolerating conditions found at extreme high altitude.