Vicugna

conservation

Conservation: CITES – Appendix I [except for populations of Bolivia and Peru, and parts of the population in Argentina and Chile, which are included in Appendix II]; U. S. ESA – Endangered; IUCN – Lower Risk (cd).

Order Artiodactyla

discussion

Discussion: Systematics reviewed by Wheeler (1995). Regarded as polytypic (mensalis a distinct subspecies) by some authors (Haltenorth, 1963) but systematics here follows Cabrera (1961). Kadwell et al. (2001) suggested that the Alpaca should be assigned to Vicugna. Gentry et al. (1996) had already proposed that majority usage be confirmed by adoption of Vicugna vicugna as the name for the wild taxon of Vicugna on the assumption that the Alpaca is the domesticated descendent and asked the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to use its plenary powers to rule that the name for this wild species is not invalid by virtue of being antedated by pacos, the name based on the domestic form. A ruling has been made in their favour (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 2003 a).

Order Artiodactyla

materials_examined

Type Locality: Chile, " abondano nella parte della Cordigliera spettante alle Provincie de Coquimbo, e di Copiapò " (cordilleras of Coquimbo and Copiapo).

Order Artiodactyla

conservation

STATUS: CITES - Appendix I, some Chilean and Peruvian populations Appendix II; U. S. ESA - Endangered; IUCN - Vulnerable.

Order Artiodactyla