Chilihueque on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The chilihueque or hueque was a
Características biológicas y productivas de los camélidos sudamericanos
. ''Avances en ciencias veterinarias''. Vol. 6, No. 2. The alpaca has also been suggested as a possible identity. In a 2016
Pages 15 and 16, Volume II
/ref> Chilihueque populations declined towards extinction in the 16th and 17th century, being replaced by European livestock. The causes of its extinction are not clear but it is known that the introduction of sheep caused some competition among both domestic species. Anecdotal evidence of the mid-17th century show that both species coexisted but suggests that there were many more sheep than chilihueqes. The decline of chilihueques reached a point in the late 18th century when, according to
The chilihueque or hueque was a South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
n camelid variety or species that existed in central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
and south-central Chile in Pre-Hispanic
In the history of the Americas, the pre-Columbian era spans from the original settlement of North and South America in the Upper Paleolithic period through European colonization, which began with Christopher Columbus's voyage of 1492. Usually, th ...
and colonial times. There are two main hypotheses on their status among South American camelids: the first one suggests that they are locally domesticated guanacos
The guanaco (; ''Lama guanicoe'') is a camelid native to South America, closely related to the llama. Guanacos are one of two wild South American camelids, the other being the vicuña, which lives at higher elevations.
Etymology
The guanaco g ...
and the second that they are a variety of llamas brought from the north into south-central Chile.Bonacic, Cristián (1991)Características biológicas y productivas de los camélidos sudamericanos
. ''Avances en ciencias veterinarias''. Vol. 6, No. 2. The alpaca has also been suggested as a possible identity. In a 2016
mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial D ...
study it is concluded that the chilihueque from Mocha Island
Mocha Island ( es, link=no, Isla Mocha ) is a small Chilean island located west of the coast of Arauco Province in the Pacific Ocean. The island is approximately in area, with a small chain of mountains running roughly in north-south direction. ...
could derive from the wild guanaco populations of southern Chile.
According to Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
priest and scientist Juan Ignacio Molina
Fr. Juan Ignacio Molina (; (June 24, 1740 – September 12, 1829) was a Chilean Jesuit priest, naturalist, historian, translator, geographer, botanist, ornithologist, and linguist. He is usually referred to as Abate Molina (a form of Abbot Moli ...
, the Dutch captain Joris van Spilbergen observed the use of chilihueques by native Mapuche
The Mapuche ( (Mapuche & Spanish: )) are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who sha ...
s of Mocha Island
Mocha Island ( es, link=no, Isla Mocha ) is a small Chilean island located west of the coast of Arauco Province in the Pacific Ocean. The island is approximately in area, with a small chain of mountains running roughly in north-south direction. ...
as plough animals in 1614.''The Geographical, Natural and Civil History of Chili''Pages 15 and 16, Volume II
/ref> Chilihueque populations declined towards extinction in the 16th and 17th century, being replaced by European livestock. The causes of its extinction are not clear but it is known that the introduction of sheep caused some competition among both domestic species. Anecdotal evidence of the mid-17th century show that both species coexisted but suggests that there were many more sheep than chilihueqes. The decline of chilihueques reached a point in the late 18th century when, according to
Tomás Guevara
Tomás Guevara Silva (1865–1935) was a Chilean historian, teacher, War of the Pacific veteran and a prominent scholar of the Mapuche people. He was born in Curicó
Curicó (), meaning "Black Waters" in Mapudungun (originally meaning "Land ...
, only the Mapuche from Mariquina and Huequén next to Angol raised the animal.
Chilihueques were used by the Mapuche in ritual slaughter Ritual slaughter is the practice of slaughtering livestock for meat in the context of a ritual. Ritual slaughter involves a prescribed practice of slaughtering an animal for food production purposes.
Ritual slaughter as a mandatory practice of sla ...
as attested by various 16th-century Spanish records. White chilihueques were preferred and often reserved for dignitaries. Chilihueques were also the main bride price used among Mapuches.
References
{{Camelids Camelids Animal hair products Livestock Mammals of the Andes Mammals of Chile Animal breeds originating in Chile Extinct mammals of South America Mammal extinctions since 1500 Mapuche