Two Guanacos, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile Dec 9, 2024

Featured in today"s image are guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. They are a fascinating camelid native to South America, and they"re the wild cousin of the llama! Unlike llamas, guanacos sport a more uniform coat colour, usually a warm light brown to dark cinnamon, with a white underside, a grey face and small, straight ears. They can live up to 28 years in the wild, making them some of the longest-living land mammals of their size in South America. Guanacos are one of the continent"s largest land animals today, sharing their megafauna status with South American giants like tapirs, marsh deer and jaguars. Guanacos munch on grasses, shrubs and even cacti, using a fascinating digestive process like, but distinct from, ruminants.

© Floris van Breugel/NPL/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

What are these ancient animals?
Dec 9, 2023India gate, New Delhi, India
Dec 9, 2025Guanaco, Punta Norte, Valdés Peninsula, Argentina

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 26, 2025Horse Head Rock, New South Wales, Australia
Sep 14, 2023Przewalskis horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia
Jul 5, 2024Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
Nov 23, 2023Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India
May 14, 2024Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, USA
Nov 19, 2023Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia
Apr 9, 2026Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales
A labyrinth of luxury
Mar 4, 2024Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
Angry bird, doting dad
A sky full of stars
Oct 7, 2023Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park, Alaska
Dec 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany
May 4, 2024Star Wars Day
Nov 26, 2023Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
Dec 31, 2024New Years Eve in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Aug 18, 2025Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
More of a moustache than a beard?
Jul 11, 2024World Population Day
Sep 12, 2024World Dolphin Day
‘Night shining’ clouds
Nov 28, 2023Varandha Ghat,Bhor,Maharashtra, India
The Coast of Death
Jun 4, 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Bardia National Park, Nepal
Nov 13, 2024Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
Mar 3, 2026Celebrating Holi
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Oct 29, 2025Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal
Apr 3, 2024Munnar, Kerala
Dec 1, 2025Antarctica Day