Caracterización Morfologica de la LLama Ecuatoriana

Abstract

Llama constitutes a zoo-genetic resource of social, economic and cultural importance, with approximately 21,662 specimens distributed in the Inter-Andean zone. The present investigation proposed: to characterize morphologically the Ecuadorian llama from the sectors of Palacio Real, La Moya (Chimborazo) and Mechahuasca (Tungurahua); where a total of 62 adult llamas (59 females and 3 males) were described; a descriptive analysis and a uni-factorial ADEVA were carried out; and the zones and sex were taken into account as independent variables for the characterization. The observed phaneroptic measurements were: color of layer and eyes: where the predominant color was brown, the mucous membranes had normal characteristics and no defects were observed. The zoometric measures presented the following averages according to the place of origin (Palacio Real, La Moya and Mechahuasca) and sex (females and males): height at the withers (97.59, 97, 93.01 cm) and (94.81, 90.87 cm) ); rump height (98.78, 99.07, 96.22 cm) and (97.29, 90.43 cm); beginning of the tail height (95.14, 95.47, 96.22 cm) and (93.23, 87.80 cm); chest height (53.07, 53.50, 48.56 cm) and (50.44, 46.20 cm); bicostal diameter (22.72, 18.93, 23.80 cm); longitudinal diameter (93.17, 88.80, 88.25 cm), rump width (18.36, 16 cm); distance between eyes (12.44, 11.75, 11.56 cm); thoracic perimeter (104.02, 100.22, 108.66 cm); neck length (51.13, 51.67 cm); spine length (87.03, 95.83, 94.26 cm); and palmar width (3.61, 3.92, 3.86 cm) respectively. Thus, the zoometric indices allowed to identify that llamas had tendency to dolichocephaly, longilinear shape, rump longer than wide, “mesolíneos” for the areas of: Palacio Real and La Moya; and “brevilíneos” for Mechahuasca.