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119-475: Despite the severe environmental challenges of high mountains and hyper-arid desert, the Andean civilizations domesticated a wide variety of crops, some of which, such as potatoes , peppers , peanuts , manioc , chocolate , and coca , became of worldwide importance. The Andean civilizations were noteworthy for monumental architecture, an extensive road system , textile weaving, and many unique characteristics of

238-652: A Yukon Gold potato or a red potato, called gold creamers or red creamers respectively. In the UK, the Jersey Royal is a famous type of new potato. Dozens of potato cultivars have been selectively bred specifically for their skin or flesh color , including gold, red, and blue varieties. These contain varying amounts of phytochemicals , including carotenoids for gold/yellow or polyphenols for red or blue cultivars. Carotenoid compounds include provitamin A alpha-carotene and beta-carotene , which are converted to

357-420: A herd . Their wool is soft and contains only a small amount of lanolin . Llamas can learn simple tasks after a few repetitions. When using a pack, they can carry about 25 to 30% of their body weight for 8 to 13 km (5–8 miles ). The name llama (in the past also spelled "lama" or "glama") was adopted by European settlers from native Peruvians . The ancestors of llamas are thought to have originated on

476-462: A staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply . Following millennia of selective breeding , there are now over 5,000 different varieties of potatoes . The potato remains an essential crop in Europe, especially Northern and Eastern Europe, where per capita production is still the highest in the world, while the most rapid expansion in production during

595-434: A better idea of when the cria is expected can be determined. Hand mating is the most efficient method, but it requires the most work on the part of the human involved. A male and female llama are put into the same pen, and mating is monitored. They are then separated and re-mated every other day until one refuses the mating. Usually, one can get in two matings using this method, though some stud males routinely refuse to mate

714-434: A completely or partially domesticated state. Many are also descended from ancestors previously domesticated, a state that tends to produce a certain amount of variation from the original type. The four forms commonly distinguished by the inhabitants of South America are recognized as distinct species, though there are difficulties in defining their distinctive characteristics. These are: The llama and alpaca are only known in

833-440: A draft sequence of the potato genome was made, containing 12 chromosomes and 860 million base pairs, making it a medium-sized plant genome. It had been thought that most potato cultivars derived from a single origin in southern Peru and extreme Northwestern Bolivia , from a species in the S. brevicaule complex. DNA analysis however shows that more than 99% of all current varieties of potatoes are direct descendants of

952-665: A feed and food from the EFSA. In 2012, GMO development in Europe was stopped by BASF. In November 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a genetically modified potato developed by Simplot , which contains genetic modifications that prevent bruising and produce less acrylamide when fried than conventional potatoes; the modifications do not cause new proteins to be made, but rather prevent proteins from being made via RNA interference . Genetically modified varieties have met public resistance in

1071-523: A female more than once. The separation presumably helps to keep the sperm count high for each mating and also helps to keep the condition of the female llama's reproductive tract more sound. If the mating is unsuccessful within two to three weeks, the female is mated again. Options for feeding llamas are quite wide; various commercial and farm-based feeds are available. The major determining factors include feed cost, availability, nutrient balance and energy density required. Young, actively growing llamas require

1190-552: A free-draining compost. Potatoes are sensitive to heavy frosts , which damage them in the ground or when stored. The historically significant Phytophthora infestans , the cause of late blight , remains an ongoing problem in Europe and the United States. Other potato diseases include Rhizoctonia , Sclerotinia , Pectobacterium carotovorum (black leg), powdery mildew , powdery scab and leafroll virus . Insects that commonly transmit potato diseases or damage

1309-456: A good fossil record. Camel-like animals have been traced back through early Miocene forms from the thoroughly differentiated, modern species. Their characteristics became more general, and they lost those that distinguished them as camelids; hence, they were classified as ancestral artiodactyls. No fossils of these earlier forms have been found in the Old World , indicating that North America

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1428-509: A greater concentration of nutrients than mature animals because of their smaller digestive tract capacities. Llamas that are well-socialized and trained to halter and lead after weaning are very friendly and pleasant to be around. They are extremely curious, and most will approach people easily. However, llamas that are bottle-fed or over-socialized and over-handled as youth will become extremely difficult to handle when mature, when they will begin to treat humans as they treat each other, which

1547-599: A group of autonomous polities that shared a common elite culture, as seen in the rich iconography and monumental architecture that survive today. They are particularly noted for their elaborately painted ceramics , gold work, monumental constructions ( huacas ) and irrigation systems. Moche history may be broadly divided into three periods – the emergence of the Moche culture in Early Moche (CE 100–300), its expansion and florescence during Middle Moche (CE 300–600), and

1666-661: A group of lordships located in the Altiplano . The kingdoms were established around 1151 after the collapse of the Tiwanaku Empire until they were absorbed into the Inca Empire in 1477. The Inca Empire , or Incan Empire ( Quechua : Tawantinsuyu ), was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America . The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco . The Inca civilization arose from

1785-400: A group), consist of the vicuña ( Vicugna vicugna , prev. Lama vicugna ), guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ), Suri alpaca , and Huacaya alpaca ( Vicugna pacos , prev. Lama guanicoe pacos ), and the domestic llama ( Lama glama ). Guanacos and vicuñas live in the wild, while llamas and alpacas exist only as domesticated animals. Although early writers compared llamas to sheep , their similarity to

1904-697: A height of 1.7 to 1.8 m (5 ft 7 in to 5 ft 11 in) at the top of the head and can weigh between 130 and 272 kg (287 and 600 lb). At maturity, males can weigh 94.74 kg, while females can weigh 102.27 kg. At birth, a baby llama (called a cria ) can weigh between 9 and 14 kg (20 and 31 lb). Llamas typically live for 15 to 25 years, with some individuals surviving 30 years or more. The following characteristics apply especially to llamas. Dentition of adults: incisors ⁠ 1 / 3 ⁠ canines ⁠ 1 / 1 ⁠ , premolars ⁠ 2 / 2 ⁠ , molars ⁠ 3 / 3 ⁠ ; total 32. In

2023-503: A kush (lying down) position, similar to big cats and canines, which is unusual in a large animal. They mate for an extended time (20–45 minutes), also unusual in a large animal. The gestation period of a llama is 11.5 months (350 days). Dams (female llamas) do not lick off their babies, as they have an attached tongue that does not reach outside of the mouth more than 13 millimetres ( 1 ⁄ 2 inch). Rather, they will nuzzle and hum to their newborns. A cria (from Spanish for "baby")

2142-399: A large animal. Female llamas are induced ovulators . Through mating, the female releases an egg and is often fertilized on the first attempt. Female llamas do not go into estrus ("heat"). Like humans, llama males and females mature sexually at different rates. Females reach puberty at about 12 months old; males do not become sexually mature until around three years of age. Llamas mate in

2261-423: A larger brain cavity and orbits and less-developed cranial ridges due to its smaller size. The nasal bones are shorter and broader and are joined by the premaxilla. Vertebrae : The ears are rather long and slightly curved inward, characteristically known as "banana" shaped. There is no dorsal hump. The feet are narrow, the toes being more separated than in the camels, each having a distinct plantar pad. The tail

2380-621: A llama's purchase cost and annual maintenance. Although not every llama is suited to the job, most are a viable, nonlethal alternative for reducing predation, requiring no training and little care. Llamas have a fine undercoat, which can be used for handicrafts and garments . The coarser outer guard hair is used for rugs, wall hangings, and lead ropes. The fiber comes in many colors, ranging from white or grey to reddish-brown, brown, dark brown, and black. Doctors and researchers have determined that llamas possess antibodies that are well-suited to treat certain diseases. Scientists have been studying

2499-566: A religious movement. The culture apparently began in the Peruvian highlands and then spread outward throughout the country. The Chavín culture has very distinctive art styles, particularly in effigy pots, a number of which were in feline shapes. Chavin de Huantar was an important ritual centre for Chavin Culture, dating to around 1,500 BCE. The Nazca culture (also Nasca) was the archaeological culture that flourished from 100 to 800 CE beside

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2618-417: A settlement called Gran Pajáten where some ceramics have been dated to 200 BCE. The largest Chacapoyan site discovered so far is Kuelap . A number of mummified burial sites have also been discovered. The Wari ( Spanish : Huari ) were a Middle Horizon civilization that flourished in the south-central Andes and coastal area of Peru, from about CE 500 to 1000. (The Wari culture is not to be confused with

2737-574: A small part of southwest Colombia into a state comparable to the historical empires of the Old World . The Diaguita culture formed in 1000 CE after emerging from the Las Ánimas culture . The Calchaquí tribe fought against expansion by both the Inca Empire and the Spanish Empire until they surrendered to Spanish rule after their defeat in the Calchaquí Wars in 1665. The Muisca

2856-436: A strange noise or feels threatened, an alarm call - a loud, shrill sound that rhythmically rises and falls - is sent out, and all others become alert. They will often hum to each other as a form of communication. The llama's groaning noises or going "mwa" (/mwaʰ/) is often a sign of fear or anger. Unhappy or agitated llamas will lay their ears back, while ears being perked upwards is a sign of happiness or curiosity. An "orgle"

2975-552: A subspecies that once grew in the lowlands of south-central Chile. Most modern potatoes grown in North America arrived through European settlement and not independently from the South American sources. At least one wild potato species, S. fendleri , occurs in North America; it is used in breeding for resistance to a nematode species that attacks cultivated potatoes. A secondary center of genetic variability of

3094-477: A true system of writing. If it is true writing, it is still unique because it is not a set of symbols, but rather knotted strings. The use of the quipu dates back at least to the Wari Empire (600–1000 CE) and possibly to the much earlier civilization of Caral/Norte Chico of the third millennium BCE. Andean civilizations also lacked wheeled vehicles and draft animals. People on land traveled only by foot and

3213-532: Is S. tuberosum (a tetraploid with 48 chromosomes ), and modern varieties of this species are the most widely cultivated. There are also four diploid species (with 24 chromosomes): S. stenotomum , S. phureja , S. goniocalyx , and S. ajanhuiri . There are two triploid species (with 36 chromosomes): S. chaucha and S. juzepczukii . There is one pentaploid cultivated species (with 60 chromosomes): S. curtilobum . There are two major subspecies of S. tuberosum . The Andean potato, S. tuberosum andigena ,

3332-463: Is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are underground tubers of the plant Solanum tuberosum , a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae . Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States to southern Chile . Genetic studies show that the cultivated potato has a single origin, in

3451-472: Is adapted to the short-day conditions prevalent in the mountainous equatorial and tropical regions where it originated. The Chilean potato S. tuberosum tuberosum , native to the Chiloé Archipelago , is in contrast adapted to the long-day conditions prevalent in the higher latitude region of southern Chile. Wild potato species occur from the southern United States to southern Chile. The potato

3570-531: Is characterized by bouts of spitting, kicking and neck wrestling. Llamas are now utilized as certified therapy animals in nursing homes and hospitals. Rojo the Llama , located in the Pacific Northwest was certified in 2008. The Mayo Clinic says animal-assisted therapy can reduce pain, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. This type of therapy is growing in popularity, and several organizations throughout

3689-426: Is considered a continuation of the birthing patterns observed in the wild. Their crias are up and standing, walking, and attempting to suckle within the first hour after birth. Crias are partially fed with llama milk that is lower in fat and salt and higher in phosphorus and calcium than cow or goat milk. A female llama will only produce about 60 millilitres (2 US fluid ounces) of milk at a time when she gives milk, so

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3808-643: Is generally more expensive but not always more valuable. Alpacas tend to have a more consistent color throughout the body. The most apparent visual difference between llamas and camels is that camels have a humps and llamas do not. Llamas are not ruminants , pseudo-ruminants, or modified ruminants. They do have a complex three-compartment stomach that allows them to digest lower quality, high cellulose foods. The stomach compartments allow for fermentation of tricky foodstuffs, followed by regurgitation and re-chewing. Ruminants (cows, sheep, goats) have four compartments, whereas llamas have only three stomach compartments:

3927-761: Is indigenous to the Chiloé Archipelago , and has been cultivated by the local indigenous people since before the Spanish conquest . Following the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire , the Spanish introduced the potato to Europe in the second half of the 16th century as part of the Columbian exchange . The staple was subsequently conveyed by European mariners (possibly including the Russian-American Company ) to territories and ports throughout

4046-436: Is instinctively very effective in preventing predation. Some llamas bond more quickly to sheep or goats if introduced just before lambing . Many sheep and goat producers indicate a special bond quickly develops between lambs and their guard llama, and the llama is particularly protective of the lambs. Using llamas as guards has reduced the losses to predators for many producers. The value of the livestock saved each year exceeds

4165-447: Is problematic for crop breeding, as all sexually-produced plants must be hybrids . The gene responsible for self-incompatibility, as well as mutations to disable it, are now known. Self-compatibility has successfully been introduced both to diploid potatoes (including a special line of S. tuberosum ) by CRISPR-Cas9 . Plants having a 'Sli' gene produce pollen which is compatible to its own parent and plants with similar S genes. This gene

4284-443: Is short, and the fiber is long, woolly, and soft. In essential structural characteristics, as well as in general appearance and habits, all the animals of this genus very closely resemble each other, so whether they should be considered as belonging to one, two, or more species is a matter of controversy among naturalists . The question is complicated by the circumstances of most individuals who have come under observation, either in

4403-442: Is the mating sound of a llama or alpaca, made by the sexually aroused male. The sound is reminiscent of gargling but with a more forceful, buzzing edge. Males begin the sound when they become aroused and continue throughout copulation . Using llamas as livestock guards in North America began in the early 1980s, and some sheep producers have used llamas successfully since then. Some would even use them to guard their smaller cousins,

4522-634: Is the maturation of the tubers: the leaves and stems senesce and the tuber skins harden. New tubers may start growing at the surface of the soil. Since exposure to light leads to an undesirable greening of the skins and the development of solanine as a protection from the sun's rays, growers cover surface tubers. Commercial growers cover them by piling additional soil around the base of the plant as it grows (called "hilling" up, or in British English "earthing up"). An alternative method, used by home gardeners and smaller-scale growers, involves covering

4641-485: Is the name for a baby llama, alpaca , vicuña , or guanaco . Crias are typically born with all the herd's females gathering to protect against the male llamas and potential predators. Llamas give birth standing. Birth is usually quick and problem-free, over in less than 30 minutes. Most births occur between 8 am and noon, during the warmer daylight hours. This may increase cria survival by reducing fatalities due to hypothermia during cold Andean nights. This birthing pattern

4760-598: The zaque ; and Bacatá the southern area, whose sovereign was the zipa . Both confederations were located in the highlands of modern-day Cundinamarca and Boyacá ( Altiplano Cundiboyacense ) in the central area of Colombia 's Eastern Ranges . Timoto–Cuica people was composed primarily of two tribes, the Timotes and the Cuicas , that inhabited in the Andean region of western Venezuela . They were closely related to

4879-603: The Andes alone — mainly in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia. Over 100 cultivars might be found in a single valley, and a dozen or more might be maintained by a single agricultural household. The European Cultivated Potato Database is an online collaborative database of potato variety descriptions updated and maintained by the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency within the framework of

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4998-543: The Colorado potato beetle ; 'New Leaf Plus' and 'New Leaf Y', approved by US regulatory agencies during the 1990s, also include resistance to viruses . McDonald's , Burger King , Frito-Lay , and Procter & Gamble announced they would not use genetically modified potatoes , and Monsanto published its intent to discontinue the line in March 2001. Potato starch contains two types of glucan , amylose and amylopectin ,

5117-687: The Great Plains of North America about 40 million years ago and subsequently migrated to South America about three million years ago during the Great American Interchange . By the end of the last ice age (10,000–12,000 years ago), camelids were extinct in North America. As of 2007, there were over seven million llamas and alpacas in South America. Some were imported to the United States and Canada late in

5236-616: The Ica Region was named for this people. The Moche civilization (alternately, the Mochica culture, Early Chimu , Pre-Chimu, Proto-Chimu, etc.) flourished in northern Peru from about 100 CE to 800 CE, during the Regional Development Epoch . While this issue is the subject of some debate, many scholars contend that the Moche were not politically organized as a monolithic empire or state. Rather, they were likely

5355-518: The Inca Empire , flourishing as the ritual and administrative capital of a major state power for approximately five hundred years. The ruins of the ancient city state are near the south-eastern shore of Lake Titicaca in the La Paz Department , Ingavi Province , Tiwanaku Municipality , about 72 km (45 mi) west of La Paz . The site was first recorded in written history by Spanish conquistador and self-acclaimed "first chronicler of

5474-697: The Kotosh Religious Tradition in the highlands. This was followed by the Ceramic Period. Various complex societies developed at this time, such as Chavín culture , lasting from 900 BCE to 200 BCE, Paracas culture , lasting from 800 BCE to 200 BCE, its successor Nazca culture , lasting from 200 BCE to 800 CE, the Moche civilisation, lasting from 100 to 700, Wari and Tiwanaku Empires , with both lasting from 600 to 1000, and Chimor , lasting from 900 to 1470. In later periods, much of

5593-839: The Muisca people of the Andes , who spoke a Chibcha language . The Timoto-Cuicas were not only composed of the Timoto and the Cuica tribes, but also the Mucuchíes, the Migures, the Tabares, and the Mucuñuques. Timoto-Cuica society was complex with pre-planned permanent villages, surrounded by irrigated, terraced fields. They also stored water in tanks.Their houses were made primarily of stone and wood with thatched roofs. They were peaceful, for

5712-562: The Rocky Mountains and in Central America . Some of the fossil llamas were much larger than current forms. Some species remained in North America during the last ice ages. North American llamas are categorized as an extinct genus, Hemiauchenia . Llama-like animals would have been a common sight 25,000 years ago in modern-day California , Texas , New Mexico , Utah , Missouri , and Florida . The camelid lineage has

5831-521: The bleak and elevated parts of the mountain range bordering the region of perpetual snow , amidst rocks and precipices, occurring in various suitable localities throughout Peru , in the southern part of Ecuador , and as far south as the middle of Bolivia . Its manners very much resemble those of the chamois of the European Alps ; it is as vigilant, wild, and timid. Vicuña fiber is extremely delicate and soft and highly valued for weaving, but

5950-487: The camel was soon recognized. They were included in the genus Camelus along with alpaca in the Systema Naturae ( 1758 ) of Carl Linnaeus . They were, however, separated by Georges Cuvier in 1800 under the name of lama along with the guanaco . DNA analysis has confirmed that the guanaco is the wild ancestor of the llama, while the vicuña is the wild ancestor of the alpaca; the latter two were placed in

6069-643: The diversity found in Solanum ancestral and wild relatives is found outside the original South American range. This makes these South American species highly valuable in breeding. The importance of the potato to humanity is recognised in the United Nations International Day of Potato, to be celebrated on 30 May each year, starting in 2024. Potatoes, both S. tuberosum and most of its wild relatives, are self-incompatible : they bear no useful fruit when self-pollinated. This trait

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6188-560: The essential nutrient , vitamin A , during digestion. Anthocyanins mainly responsible for red or blue pigmentation in potato cultivars do not have nutritional significance, but are used for visual variety and consumer appeal. In 2010, potatoes were bioengineered specifically for these pigmentation traits. Genetic research has produced several genetically modified varieties. 'New Leaf', owned by Monsanto Company , incorporates genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (source of most Bt toxins in transcrop use ), which confers resistance to

6307-418: The 20th century; their descendants now number more than 158,000 llamas and 100,000 alpacas. In Aymara mythology, llamas are important beings. The Heavenly Llama is said to drink water from the ocean and urinates as it rains. According to Aymara eschatology , llamas will return to the water springs and ponds where they come from at the end of time. Lamoids, or llamas (as they are more generally known as

6426-574: The 21st century was in southern and eastern Asia, with China and India leading the world production as of 2021. Like the tomato and the nightshades, the potato is in the genus Solanum ; the aerial parts of the potato contain the toxin solanine . Normal potato tubers that have been grown and stored properly produce glycoalkaloids in negligible amounts, but, if sprouts and potato skins are exposed to light, tubers can become toxic. The English word "potato" comes from Spanish patata , in turn from Taíno batata , which means " sweet potato ", not

6545-699: The Americas and one of the Cradles of civilization where civilization separately originated in the ancient world. It flourished between the 30th century BCE and the 18th century BCE. The alternative name, Caral-Supe, is derived from the Sacred City of Caral in the Supe Valley, a large and well-studied Norte Chico site. Complex society in Norte Chico arose a millennium after Sumer in Mesopotamia ,

6664-530: The Andean civilizations lacked money. Copper axe-monies (also called "naipes") and Spondylus shells functioned as mediums of exchange in some areas, especially coastal Ecuador , but most of the Andes area had economies organized on reciprocity and redistribution rather than money and markets. These characteristics were especially notable during the Inca Empire but originated in much earlier times. Agriculture in South America may have begun in coastal Ecuador with

6783-741: The Andean civilizations, notably influencing religion and architecture. After the first humans — who were then arranged into hunter-gatherer tribal groups — arrived in South America via the Isthmus of Panama , they spread out across the continent, with the earliest evidence for settlement in the Andean region dating to circa 15,000 BCE, in what archaeologists call the Lithic Period. In the ensuing Andean preceramic period, plants began to be widely cultivated, and first complex society, Caral-Supe civilization , emerged at 3500 BCE, and lasted until 1800 BCE. Also, distinct religious centres emerged, such as

6902-435: The Andean region was conquered by the indigenous Incas , who in 1438 founded the largest empire that the Americas had ever seen, named Tahuantinsuyu , but usually called the Inca Empire. The Inca governed their empire from the capital city of Cuzco , administering it along traditional Andean lines. The Inca Empire rose from Kingdom of Cuzco , founded around 1230. In the 16th century, Spanish colonisers from Europe arrived in

7021-570: The Andes include potatoes , quinoa , tomatoes , chile peppers , cotton , coca , tobacco , pineapples , peanuts , and several varieties of beans . Animals domesticated in the Andes were llamas and guinea pigs . The challenges of the environment required sophisticated agricultural technology. Unlike the Middle East , the Andes lacked easily domesticated and large-seeded plants such as wheat and barley and large and easily domesticated animals such as horses and cattle . Agriculture on

7140-536: The Andes, eventually subjugating the indigenous kingdoms and incorporating the Andean region into the Spanish Empire . The civilization of the Andes was one of six in the world deemed by scholars to be "pristine" , that is indigenous and not derived from other civilizations. Due to its isolation from other civilizations, the indigenous people of the Andes had to come up with their own, often unique solutions to environmental and societal challenges. Andean civilization lacked several characteristics distinguishing it from

7259-623: The European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks—which is run by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute . Around 80 varieties are commercially available in the UK. For culinary purposes, varieties are often differentiated by their waxiness: floury or mealy baking potatoes have more starch (20–22%) than waxy boiling potatoes (16–18%). The distinction may also arise from variation in

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7378-569: The Indies" Pedro Cieza de León . Leon stumbled upon the remains of Tiwanaku in 1549 while searching for the Inca capital Qullasuyu . Some have hypothesized that Tiwanaku's modern name is related to the Aymara term taypiqala , meaning "stone in the center", alluding to the belief that it lay at the center of the world. However, the name by which Tiwanaku was known to its inhabitants may have been lost, as

7497-495: The Netherlands in subsequent years. The 'Fortuna' GM potato variety developed by BASF was made resistant to late blight by introgressing two resistance genes, blb1 and blb2 , from S. bulbocastanum , a wild potato native to Mexico. Rpi-blb1 is a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR/NLR), an R-gene-produced immunoreceptor. In October 2011 BASF requested cultivation and marketing approval as

7616-496: The Peruvian highlands sometime in the early 13th century, and the last Inca stronghold was conquered by the Spanish in 1572. From 1438 to 1533 CE, the Incas used a variety of methods, from conquest to peaceful assimilation, to incorporate a large portion of western South America, centered on the Andean mountain ranges, including Peru, southwest Ecuador , western and south central Bolivia , northwest Argentina , northern Chile , and

7735-594: The Tragulina ( chevrotains ), the Pecora ( ruminants ), and the Whippomorpha ( hippos and cetaceans , which belong to Artiodactyla from a cladistic , if not traditional, standpoint). The Tylopoda have more or less affinity to each of the sister taxa , standing in some respects in a middle position between them, sharing some characteristics from each, but in others showing special modifications not found in any of

7854-643: The U.S. and in the European Union. Potatoes are generally grown from "seed potatoes", tubers specifically grown to be free from disease and to provide consistent and healthy plants. To be disease free, the areas where seed potatoes are grown are selected with care. In the US, this restricts production of seed potatoes to only 15 states out of all 50 states where potatoes are grown. These locations are selected for their cold, hard winters that kill pests and summers with long sunshine hours for optimum growth. In

7973-486: The UK, most seed potatoes originate in Scotland , in areas where westerly winds reduce aphid attacks and the spread of potato virus pathogens. Potato growth can be divided into five phases. During the first phase, sprouts emerge from the seed potatoes and root growth begins. During the second, photosynthesis begins as the plant develops leaves and branches above-ground and stolons develop from lower leaf axils on

8092-553: The United States participate. When correctly reared, llamas spitting at a human is a rare thing. Llamas are very social herd animals, however, and sometimes spit at each other to discipline lower-ranked llamas. A llama's social rank in a herd is never static. They can always move up or down the social ladder by picking small fights. This is usually done between males to see which will become dominant. Their fights are visually dramatic, characterized by spitting, ramming each other with their chests, neck wrestling, and kicking, mainly to knock

8211-427: The afterlife. The Moche of pre-Columbian Peru depicted llamas quite realistically in their ceramics. In the Inca Empire , llamas were the only beasts of burden, and many of the people dominated by the Inca had long traditions of llama herding. For the Inca nobility, the llama was symbolic, and llama figures were often buried with the dead. In South America, llamas are still used as beasts of burden, as well as for

8330-464: The alpaca. They are used most commonly in the western regions of the United States , where larger predators, such as coyotes and feral dogs, are prevalent. Typically, a single gelding (castrated male) is used. Research suggests using multiple guard llamas is not as effective as one. Multiple males tend to bond with one another rather than with the livestock and may ignore the flock. A gelded male of two years of age bonds closely with its new charges and

8449-420: The area of present-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia . Potatoes were domesticated there about 7,000–10,000 years ago from a species in the S. brevicaule complex. Many varieties of the potato are cultivated in the Andes region of South America, where the species is indigenous . The Spanish introduced potatoes to Europe in the second half of the 16th century from the Americas. They are

8568-427: The basic requirements of similar varietal characteristics, being firm, fairly clean, and fairly well-shaped. Immature potatoes may be sold fresh from the field as " creamer " or " new " potatoes and are particularly valued for their taste. They are typically small in size and tender, with a loose skin, and flesh containing a lower level of starch than other potatoes. In the United States they are generally either

8687-501: The below-ground stem. In the third phase the tips of the stolons swell, forming new tubers , and the shoots continue to grow, with flowers typically developing soon after. Tuber bulking occurs during the fourth phase, when the plant begins investing the majority of its resources in its newly formed tubers. At this phase, several factors are critical to a good yield: optimal soil moisture and temperature, soil nutrient availability and balance, and resistance to pest attacks . The fifth phase

8806-508: The centre, and are insect-pollinated. The plant develops tubers to store nutrients. These are not roots but stems that form from thickened rhizomes at the tips of long thin stolons . On the surface of the tubers there are "eyes," which act as sinks to protect the vegetative buds from which the stems originate. The "eyes" are arranged in helical form. In addition, the tubers have small holes that allow breathing, called lenticels . The lenticels are circular and their number varies depending on

8925-519: The city of Chiclayo , and Cerro Baul in Moquegua . Also well-known are the Wari ruins of Pikillaqta ("Flea Town"), a short distance south-east of Cuzco en route to Lake Titicaca . Tiwanaku (Spanish: Tiahuanaco and Tiahuanacu) is an important Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia , South America. Tiwanaku is recognized by Andean scholars as one of the most important precursors to

9044-526: The comparative ratio of two different potato starch compounds: amylose and amylopectin . Amylose, a long-chain molecule, diffuses from the starch granule when cooked in water, and lends itself to dishes where the potato is mashed. Varieties that contain a slightly higher amylopectin content, which is a highly branched molecule, help the potato retain its shape after being boiled in water. Potatoes that are good for making potato chips or potato crisps are sometimes called "chipping potatoes", which means they meet

9163-417: The cria must frequently suckle to receive the nutrients it requires. In harem mating , the male is left with females most of the year. For field mating , a female is turned into a field with a male llama and left there for some time. This is the easiest method in terms of labor but the least useful in predicting a likely birth date. An ultrasound test can be performed, and together with the exposure dates,

9282-408: The desert coast required the development of irrigation. In the mountains, the elevation, cold climate and steep terrain required a range of technological solutions such as terraces ( andén ), exploitation of microclimates, and selective breeding . Due to the climatic uncertainties, farmers traditionally farmed several crops at several elevations and exposures. At a macro level, societies and states did

9401-425: The domestic state and are variable in size and of many colors, often white, brown, or piebald. Some are grey or black. The guanaco and vicuña are wild. The guanaco is endangered; it has a nearly uniform light-brown color, passing into white below. The guanaco and vicuña certainly differ: The vicuña is more petite, more slender in its proportions, and has a shorter head than the guanaco. The vicuña lives in herds on

9520-510: The domestication of squash about 8000 BCE by the Las Vegas culture . Some scholars believe that the earliest civilizations on the Peruvian coast initially relied more upon maritime resources than agriculture during the formative period of their societies. However, as in all civilizations until the late 19th century, agriculture was the principal occupation of the great majority of the people. The greatest contribution of Andean civilization to

9639-765: The dry southern coast of Peru in the river valleys of the Rio Grande de Nazca drainage and the Ica Valley (Silverman and Proulx, 2002). Having been heavily influenced by the preceding Paracas culture , which was known for extremely complex textiles, the Nazca produced an array of beautiful crafts and technologies such as ceramics, textiles, and geoglyphs (most commonly known as the Nazca lines ). They also built an impressive system of underground aqueducts , known as puquios , that still function today. The Nazca Province in

9758-426: The earth. The chain deposits into an area where further separation occurs. The most complex designs use vine choppers and shakers, along with a blower system to separate the potatoes from the plant. The result is then usually run past workers who continue to sort out plant material, stones, and rotten potatoes before the potatoes are continuously delivered to a wagon or truck. Further inspection and separation occurs when

9877-581: The genus Vicugna . The genera Lama and Vicugna are, with the two species of true camels, the sole existing representatives of a very distinct section of the Artiodactyla or even-toed ungulates, called Tylopoda , or "bump-footed", from the peculiar bumps on the soles of their feet. The Tylopoda consists of a single family, the Camelidae, and shares the order Artiodactyla with the Suina ( pigs ),

9996-427: The growing area with mulches such as straw or plastic sheets. At farm scale, potatoes require a well-drained neutral or mildly acidic soil ( pH 6 or 7) such as a sandy loam . The soil is prepared using deep tillage, for example with a chisel plow or ripper. In areas where irrigation is needed, the field is leveled using a landplane so that water can be supplied evenly. Manure can be added after initial irrigation;

10115-483: The latter of which is most industrially useful. Waxy potato varieties produce waxy potato starch , which is almost entirely amylopectin, with little or no amylose. BASF developed the ' Amflora ' potato, which was modified to express antisense RNA to inactivate the gene for granule bound starch synthase , an enzyme which catalyzes the formation of amylose. 'Amflora' potatoes therefore produce starch consisting almost entirely of amylopectin , and are thus more useful for

10234-456: The lower jaw, the three incisors are long, spatulate, and procumbent; the outer ones are the smallest. Next to these is a curved, suberect canine, followed after an interval by an isolated minute and often deciduous simple conical premolar; then a contiguous series of one premolar and three molars, which differ from those of Camelus in having a small accessory column at the anterior outer edge. The skull generally resembles that of Camelus , with

10353-477: The modern ethnic group and language known as Wari' , with which it has no known link.) Wari , as the former capital city was called, is located 11 km (6.8 mi) north-east of the city of Ayacucho . This city was the center of a civilization that covered much of the highlands and coast of Peru. The best-preserved remnants, beside the Wari Ruins , are the recently discovered Northern Wari ruins near

10472-552: The modern world has been the plants its people domesticated. Crops grown by the Andeans were often unique to the region. Maize , which found its way to the Andes from Mexico , was often the most important crop at lower and intermediate elevations. The Andeans cultivated an estimated 70 different plants, almost as many as were cultivated in all of Europe and Asia . Many of these plants are no longer cultivated, or are minor crops, but important plants which were domesticated in or near

10591-507: The most part, and depended on growing crops. Regional crops included potatoes and ullucos . They left behind works of art, particularly anthropomorphic ceramics, but no major monuments. They spun vegetable fibers to weave into textiles and mats for housing. They are credited with having invented the arepa , a staple in Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine . Potato see list The potato ( / p ə ˈ t eɪ t oʊ / )

10710-683: The nightshade family, the Solanaceae . That is a diverse family of flowering plants, often poisonous, that includes the mandrake ( Mandragora ), deadly nightshade ( Atropa ), and tobacco ( Nicotiana ), as shown in the outline phylogenetic tree (many branches omitted). The most commonly cultivated potato is S. tuberosum ; there are several other species. many garden flowers and other species Nicotiana (tobacco) Atropa (nightshades) Mandragora (mandrake)  (sweet and bell peppers) S. lycopersicum (tomato) S. tuberosum (cultivated potato) The major species grown worldwide

10829-429: The other off balance. The females are usually only seen spitting to control other herd members. One may determine how agitated the llama is by the materials in the spit. The more irritated the llama is, the further back into each of the three stomach compartments it will try to draw materials from for its spit. While the social structure might constantly change, they live as a family and care for each other. If one notices

10948-468: The other taxa. The 19th-century discoveries of a vast and previously unexpected extinct Paleogene fauna of North America, as interpreted by paleontologists Joseph Leidy , Edward Drinker Cope , and Othniel Charles Marsh , aided understanding of the early history of this family. Llamas were not always confined to South America ; abundant llama-like remains were found in Pleistocene deposits in

11067-513: The people of Tiwanaku had no written language. The Chimú were the residents of Chimor , with its capital at the city of Chan Chan , a large adobe city in the Moche Valley of present-day Trujillo, Peru . The culture arose about 900 CE. The Inca ruler Topa Inca Yupanqui led a campaign which conquered the Chimú around 1470 CE. This was just fifty years before the arrival of the Spanish in

11186-655: The plant now known as simply "potato". The name "spud" for a potato is from the 15th century spudde , a short knife or dagger, probably related to Danish spyd , "spear". From around 1840, the name transferred to the tuber itself. At least six languages—Afrikaans, Dutch, French, (West) Frisian, Hebrew, Persian and some variants of German—use a term for "potato" that means "earth apple" or "ground apple". Potato plants are herbaceous perennials that grow up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) high. The stems are hairy. The leaves have roughly four pairs of leaflets . The flowers range from white or pink to blue or purple; they are yellow at

11305-404: The plants include the Colorado potato beetle , the potato tuber moth , the green peach aphid ( Myzus persicae ), the potato aphid , Tuta absoluta , beet leafhoppers , thrips , and mites . The Colorado potato beetle is considered the most important insect defoliator of potatoes, devastating entire crops. The potato cyst nematode is a microscopic worm that feeds on the roots, thus causing

11424-493: The potato is Mexico, where important wild species that have been used extensively in modern breeding are found, such as the hexaploid S. demissum , used as a source of resistance to the devastating late blight disease ( Phytophthora infestans ). Another relative native to this region, Solanum bulbocastanum , has been used to genetically engineer the potato to resist potato blight. Many such wild relatives are useful for breeding resistance to P. infestans . Little of

11543-421: The potato plants to wilt. Since its eggs can survive in the soil for several years, crop rotation is recommended. On a small scale, potatoes can be harvested using a hoe or spade, or simply by hand. Commercial harvesting is done with large potato harvesters , which scoop up the plant and surrounding earth. This is transported up an apron chain consisting of steel links several feet wide, which separates some of

11662-454: The potatoes are unloaded from the field vehicles and put into storage. Llama Camelus glama Linnaeus, 1758 The llama ( / ˈ l ɑː m ə / ; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈʎama] or [ˈʝama] ) ( Lama glama ) is a domesticated South American camelid , widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since the pre-Columbian era . Llamas are social animals and live with others as

11781-552: The pristine civilizations in the Old World and from the Mesoamerican cultures. First, and perhaps most important, Andean civilizations did not have a written language. Instead, their societies used the quipu , a system of knotted and colored strings, to convey information. Few quipus survive and they have never been fully deciphered. Scholars differ on whether the knotted cords of the quipu were able only to record numerical data or could also be used for narrative communication,

11900-416: The quantity that each animal produces is small. Alpacas are primarily descended from wild vicuña ancestors. In contrast, domesticated llamas are descended primarily from wild guanaco ancestors, although a considerable amount of hybridization between the two species has occurred. Differential characteristics between llamas and alpacas include the llama's larger size, longer head, and curved ears. Alpaca fiber

12019-432: The region. Consequently, Spanish chroniclers were able to record accounts of Chimú culture from individuals who had lived before the Inca conquest. Similarly, archaeological evidence suggest Chimor grew out of the remnants of Moche culture ; early Chimú pottery had some resemblance to that of the Moche. Their ceramics are all black, and their work in precious metals is very detailed and intricate. The Aymara kingdoms were

12138-466: The rumen, omasum, and abomasum. In addition, the llama (and other camelids) have an extremely long and complex large intestine (colon). The large intestine's role in digestion is to reabsorb water, vitamins, and electrolytes from food waste passing through it. The length of the llama's colon allows it to survive on much less water than other animals. This is a major advantage in arid climates where they live. Llamas have an unusual reproductive cycle for

12257-471: The same with the vertical archipelago , establishing colonies at different elevations and locations to increase the possibilities of agricultural success. The Norte Chico civilization , also called Caral, was a complex pre-Columbian society that included as many as 30 major population centers in what is now the Norte Chico region of north-central coastal Peru . It is the oldest known civilization in

12376-402: The size of the tuber and environmental conditions. Tubers form in response to decreasing day length, although this tendency has been minimized in commercial varieties. After flowering, potato plants produce small green fruits that resemble green cherry tomatoes , each containing about 300 very small seeds . Like the tomato , potatoes belong to the genus Solanum , which is a member of

12495-526: The societies they created. Less than a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, the Incas , from their homeland centered on the city of Cusco , united most Andean cultures into one single empire that encompassed nearly all of what is usually called Andean civilization. The Timoto Cuica of Venezuela remained outside the Inca orbit. The Inca Empire was a patchwork of languages, cultures and peoples. Spanish rule ended or transformed many elements of

12614-413: The soil is then broken up with a disc harrow . The potatoes are planted using a potato planter machine in rows 80 centimetres (31 in) apart. At garden scale, potatoes are planted in trenches or individual holes some 15 centimetres (5.9 in) deep in soil, preferably with additional organic matter such as garden compost or manure. Alternatively, they can be planted in containers or bags filled with

12733-557: The starch industry. In 2010, the European Commission cleared the way for 'Amflora' to be grown in the European Union for industrial purposes only—not for food. Nevertheless, under EU rules, individual countries have the right to decide whether they will allow this potato to be grown on their territory. Commercial planting of 'Amflora' was expected in the Czech Republic and Germany in the spring of 2010, and Sweden and

12852-430: The transport of goods was accomplished by humans or llama , pack animals which could carry loads of up to one-fourth of their weight, a maximum of 45 kilograms (99 lb). Llamas were not big or strong enough to be used for plowing or as riding animals for adults. Moreover, Andean civilizations faced severe environmental challenges. The earliest civilizations were on the hyper-arid desert coast of Peru. Agriculture

12971-519: The upper jaw, a compressed, sharp, pointed laniariform incisor near the hinder edge of the premaxilla is followed in the male at least by a moderate-sized, pointed, curved true canine in the anterior part of the maxilla. The isolated canine-like premolar that follows in the camels is not present. The teeth of the molar series, which are in contact with each other, consist of two very small premolars (the first almost rudimentary) and three broad molars , generally constructed like those of Camelus . In

13090-593: The urban nucleation and subsequent collapse in Late Moche (CE 500–750). The Chachapoyas, or the 'Cloud People', were an Andean civilization living in cloud forests of the Amazonas region of present-day northern Peru. The Incas conquered the Chachapoyas shortly before the arrival of the Spanish in Peru. The first firm evidence of their existence dates back to around 700 CE, although it is possible that they built

13209-737: The very limited number of varieties initially introduced, left the crop vulnerable to disease. In 1845, a plant disease known as late blight, caused by the fungus-like oomycete Phytophthora infestans , spread rapidly through the poorer communities of western Ireland as well as parts of the Scottish Highlands , resulting in the crop failures that led to the Great Irish Famine . The International Potato Center , based in Lima , Peru, holds 4,870 types of potato germplasm , most of which are traditional landrace cultivars. In 2009

13328-445: The way llamas might contribute to the fight against coronaviruses, including MERS and SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19 ). Scholar Alex Chepstow-Lusty has argued that the switch from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to widespread agriculture was only possible because of the use of llama dung as fertilizer . The Moche people frequently placed llamas and their parts in the burials of important people as offerings or provisions for

13447-524: The world, especially their colonies. European and colonial farmers were slow to adopt farming potatoes, but after 1750 they became an important food staple and field crop and played a major role in the European 19th century population boom. According to conservative estimates, the introduction of the potato was responsible for a quarter of the growth in Old World population and urbanization between 1700 and 1900. However, lack of genetic diversity , due to

13566-487: Was cloned by Wageningen University and Solynta in 2021, which would allow for faster and more focused breeding. Diploid hybrid potato breeding is a recent area of potato genetics supported by the finding that simultaneous homozygosity and fixation of donor alleles is possible. Wild potato species useful for breeding blight resistance include Solanum desmissum and S. stoloniferum , among others. There are some 5,000 potato varieties worldwide, 3,000 of them in

13685-614: Was contemporaneous with the Egyptian pyramids , and predated the Mesoamerican Olmec by nearly two millennia. The Valdivia Culture is one of the oldest settled cultures recorded in the Americas. It emerged from the earlier Las Vegas culture and thrived on the Santa Elena peninsula near the modern-day town of Valdivia , Ecuador between 3500 BCE and 1800 BCE. The Chavín culture is thought to have been primarily

13804-450: Was first domesticated in southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia by pre-Columbian farmers, around Lake Titicaca . Potatoes were domesticated there about 7,000–10,000 years ago from a species in the S. brevicaule complex. The earliest archaeologically verified potato tuber remains have been found at the coastal site of Ancon (central Peru ), dating to 2500 BC. The most widely cultivated variety, Solanum tuberosum tuberosum ,

13923-442: Was possible only with irrigation in valleys crossed by rivers coming from the high Andes, plus in a few fog oases called lomas . In the Andes, agriculture was limited by thin soils, cold climate, low or seasonal precipitation, and a scarcity of flat land. Freezing temperatures may occur in every month of the year at altitudes of more than 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), the homeland of many of the highland Andean civilizations. Finally,

14042-526: Was the Chibcha -speaking people that formed the Muisca Confederation in the central highlands of present-day Colombia . They were encountered by the troops of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada , in name of the Spanish Empire at the time of the conquest in the spring of 1537. The Muisca comprised two confederations: Hunza (present-day Tunja) was located in the northern area, whose sovereign was

14161-559: Was the original home of camelids and that the ancestors of Old World camels crossed over via the Bering Land Bridge from North America. The formation of the Isthmus of Panama three million years ago allowed camelids to spread to South America as part of the Great American Interchange , where they evolved further. Meanwhile, North American camelids died out at the end of the Pleistocene . A full-grown llama can reach

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