What is the difference between a llama and alpaca?
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Suri Alpaca Huacaya Alpaca Llama Photo by Mo & Erv Lischke |
No, alpacas are not llamas. Alpacas & llamas are in the camelid family, but each serves a different purpose. Alpacas are a South American relative of the Camel. Closer relatives include the domesticated llama, the wild guanaco, and vicunas. This family of animals originated on the plains of North America about 10 million years ago. A common ancestor to the South American camelids migrated to South America
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| Alpaca - "Cowboy" |
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| Llama - "Snuffy" |
Llamas are about 300+ lbs, taller (4-4.5 feet at the shoulder) and are used for mountain packing or guarding livestock (often seen with sheep). They have always been a beast of burden. We shear our lllamas, but toss out their fleece.
The function and purpose of the alpacas if for its as fleece - soft, smooth, water repellent, hypo-allergenic. Alpacas are much smaller (120-180 lbs and 3 ft at the shoulder) and are solely used for their fleece. They are a flight animal and will not stand up for themselves. We use llamas to help protect our alpacas from predators in addition to livestock guard dogs, Turkish Anatolians.
The function and purpose of the alpacas if for its as fleece - soft, smooth, water repellent, hypo-allergenic. Alpacas are much smaller (120-180 lbs and 3 ft at the shoulder) and are solely used for their fleece. They are a flight animal and will not stand up for themselves. We use llamas to help protect our alpacas from predators in addition to livestock guard dogs, Turkish Anatolians.
One of the easiest ways to tell a llama from an alpaca is the "banana ears" on a llama, which arch inwards. Alpaca ears point straight out.
There are approximately 150,000 alpacas within the United States
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| Guard Llamas Homeboy and Jumpshot |
Llamas get a bad wrap for spitting on people. Just like every dog has the potential to bite, so does a llama have potential to spit to protect him / herself when feeling threatened. If you respect them, they are great creatures. In 8 years, with a variety of llamas, I have never been spit on or threatened by a llama. They are meant to be confident and bold. That is what they have been brought up to do. But give them some treats and a few scratches, they will love you like the rest of their herd.
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