The llama is larger than an alpaca. But they’re different creatures. Though alpacas and llamas belong to the same family, the two breeds are quite different in many respects. See more ideas about alpaca, llama, cute animals. They have a lot of thick, soft fur, usually on top of the head and around the neck. Llama vs. Alpaca. Very intelligent, some people teach them to do tricks, like a dog! We use cookies on this site to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience. The rough outer coat is used for lead ropes, rugs and wall hangings. Alpaca and llama fleece are classified as specialty or luxury fibers, but sheep fleece or wool tops the list of animal fibers used today. Alpacas are shy, timid, and more likely to ‘fly’ than ‘fight’ if provoked or threatened. They stand 32-39 inches at the shoulder. Llamas are heavier (200 to 350 lbs / 90 to 158 kg) and can even get to 400 pounds (181 kg), while Alpacas are normally 100 to 175 lbs (45 to 68 kg). I’d love to hear your thoughts. It’s incredibly soft and warm. Llama and Alpacas are from the Andes Mountains, in central and South America. Both animals can be […], Immigrants Feed America t-shirts are back – find them at the Modern Farmers Market, If you told me there was a jerky snack made out of kelp - yes,... (more), It can keep up to 50 cans chilled for up to 36 hours and collapses... (more). The smaller alpaca isn’t really suited for heavy loads. One of the Most Under-Used Resources in American Ag Is a Waste... 7 Smokable Plants You Can Grow That Aren’t Marijuana, 6 Secretly Poisonous Plants We Eat All the Time, This Modern Farmer Employs At-Risk Youth to Keep Them Off the Streets, Hmong Farmers Find Their Own Land in Minnesota, New Year’s Resolutions for the Regenerative Grower, Things We Love: CleverMade Snapbasket Cooler, Things We Love: Republic of Tea Daily Greens Single Sips. Important Note: There are four similar animals all related to each other. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. Poachers heavily hunted them. Michigan alpaca farmers are growing and I do expect this figure to increase year over year. Alpaca vs Llama . The Llama is about twice the size of the Alpaca. Llamas spit at each other, when showing they’re more dominant, and to make sure the ‘lower class’ is disciplined. Alpacas also tend to be a bit more skittish than llamas, which are often used as guard animals for alpacas, sheep, and other small livestock. Annual global output for llama yarn is … You can learn more about how we grade alpaca fiber in this article. Soft to touch, that’s why it’s sought after for knits. One exception is baby llama fiber which can be very soft and below 30 microns so it has a similar feel to alpaca. They have a lifespan of about 15-20 years. Alpacas generally live 15 to 20 years, with a few living up to 30 years of age. Alpaca Conservation status Domesticated Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Camelidae Genus: Vicugna Species: V. pacos Binomial name Vicugna pacos (Linnaeus, 1758) Alpaca range Synonyms Camelus pacos Linnaeus, 1758 Lama pacos (Linnaeus, 1758) The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a species of South American camelid … An alpaca tends to be very skittish and timid, but gentle. An average alpaca stands around 35 inches tall while an average llama stands around 45 inches tall. Size. Since llamas are used for carrying packs, they can hold loads up to 25 – 30 percent of their body weight for 8 – 13 km. A great difference between an alpaca and a llama is in their height and weight. Full-grown llamas grow to around 1.7 to 1.8 meters tall. Alpacas don’t spit often, but they spit at each other. Domesticated Alpacas are descendants of the wild South American ‘vicuña,’ from the camelid family, native to the central Andes. Alpaca wool is water and flame resistant. Learn more. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Hope my one year old can’t tell . The Unbelievably Sweet Alpacas Llamas don’t have much hair on their heads but a bit on their necks. Alpaca vs Llama: List of top 10 differences. Alpacas have a more rounded, sloping body. Alpacas have padded feet, unlike cows who have hoofed feet. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. These tips will make it easier for you to know which animal you are looking at when you are at a farm, zoo or notice a herd coming towards your way. Great to hear my post was helpful. Alpaca ears are short and shaped like spears. These are two exclusive South American camels with characteristic appearances. We use a couple as guard animals for the sheep. They’re herd animals. The alpaca An alpaca is social. Learn More. Typical llama fiber is comparable to sheep’s wool in terms of weight and texture. Take this quiz to find out! Such as ponchos, hats, scarves, socks, sweaters, blankets, even toys. Their purpose: For more than 5,000 years alpacas have been bred for fiber (and in Peru for meat as well), while llamas have been bred for the same amount of time as pack animals and meat. While the former produces a shorter and fluffy type of fiber, the latter produces a longer fiber. The same goes for weight as llamas are heavier than alpacas. Or have a question? The llama’s history differs from the alpaca. Both llama and alpaca originate from the Andes in South America. Thanks for your kind words Stuart. Their camelid cousin, vicuñas, are smaller than alpacas and guanacos and are more delicate. On the other hand, alpacas are much smaller, typically weighing around 140 pounds versus a llama ‘s 250 pounds. Alpaca Vs Llama – The Verdict. 2. Sources: openherd.com, lifeandscience.org, mountairyalpacas.com, marylandalpacas.org, Plus: See more stories from Alpaca Week ». Sign up for your Modern Farmer Weekly Newsletter. 8 Interesting Facts About Machu Picchu in Peru • Our Whole Village. Though they’re all quite similar in appearance, and come from one ancestor. The wool from the first shearing is the finest, and is called baby alpaca. At the shoulder, an average alpaca stands between 34 and 36 inches, while a llama generally ranges between 42 and 46 inches. Michigan has just over 8,000 registered alpacas which is only about 30% of Ohio’s 26,000 alpacas. You can see there is a difference between a llama and alpaca. A llama is independent, and aren’t herd animals. Three million years later, they migrated to South America, because of the Great American Interchange. The alpaca also produces more fleece than its larger cousin and in a much greater variety of colors. Generally, their wool creates a higher quality yarn than llamas. They’re even softer and warmer than cashmere! Llama vs. Alpaca: Similarities. However, the alpaca and llama difference is pretty subtle. Llama Image Credit: ZEBULON72, Pixabay. The Vicuna is the national symbol of Peru and is considered a very similar animal to the llamas and the alpacas however, they have different characteristics. I love knitting with baby alpaca yarn, it is super soft and squooshy. Both animals don’t have top front teeth. Their ears: Alpaca ears have short spear-shaped ears while llamas have much longer, banana-shaped ears. Quelles sont les différences principales entre le lama et l’alpaga ? In terms of temperament and fiber characteristics, Alpacas are better than llamas. KnitLikeGranny.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Llama vs Alpaca – Quick Facts – 11 Key Differences. A big lesson learnt. Alpacas faces are short, have a blunt muzzle, and are very fluffy. If separated from its alpaca herd, this herd animal would die from loneliness. Pleasant! This is the difference between an alpaca and a llama, both members of the camelid family. I’m Jodie Morgan, owner and creator of Knit Like Granny. Yes, you can actually adopt one of these furry cuties. Suri hair is long, straight, and tassel-like, a bit like dreadlocks. Some farmers use llamas as guard animals and to protect an alpaca herd. Their fur comes in a wide range of sizes, shades and colors, from white to an almost jet black. Alpacas are domesticated versions of vicugña pacos, South American ruminants that live high in the Andes. Without having to look at their DNA, there are evident morphological differences between the llama and alpaca which can help us tell the difference between them: Size: an alpaca is visibly smaller than a llama. They’re also very shy around people. The Alpaca has short & spear-shaped ears and Llama has long & curved ears. Below is the top 10 list of ways to tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama. There are approximately 300,000 alpacas within the United States. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Read the latest reviews on our favorite products. Do you know your Llama's compared to yo Alpaca's? Alpacas generally weigh between 48 – 84 kg or 150 pounds. Geez they look so similar but now thanks to your helpful post, I can spot the differences. Though they look plump and rounded, it’s their hair. At first, these south american animals from the camel family may look indistinguishable, as llamas and alpacas have a lot in common. They’re in the same family but all different. Hi Louise. Their faces: Llamas have a longer face; an alpaca’s face is a bit more blunt, giving them a “smooshed in” look. These cookies do not store any personal information. Yes they have such gorgeous faces. They always spawn when a wandering trader is spawned using a spawn egg or by using the /summon command, although a trader … Older information online will state Michigan has a very large population, but this is actually false. They live in Peru, Chile, Patagonia in Argentina, and parts of Paraguay. During breeding, the male alpaca emits a unique throaty vocalization called "orgling." They hum! If you buy through a link on my posts, I may earn an affiliate commission. At first glance, alpacas may resemble their larger camelid cousin the llama, but they are quite different. ... Alpaca garments – shopping guide. After vicuñas, llama fiber is precious. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Alpacas have shaggy wool that’s much finer and softer as well. Jul 23, 2018 Grafissimo Getty Images. Alpaca vs Llama Comparison in Detail They’re also quite heavy, able to reach up to 400 pounds. (Yes, I’m a real person :) ) Thanks for being here. Alpacas – As I mentioned above, there are two types, the Huacaya and the Suri. Llama ears are long, curved, and have ears shaped like bananas almost. Alpaca vs. Llama. Fun Fact: The scientific name of Alpacas is ‘Vicugna pacos.’ ‘Vicugna’ sounds like ‘vicuna,’ and vice-versa. Llamas are more aggressive and suspicious of strangers. They both eat feed and grass and are both quite calm creatures. My posts contain affiliate links. It’s easier for the farmer to collect fertilizer. Llamas are also a South American camelid, related to the Guanaco. Fun Fact: Huacaya fleece lacks lanolin, making it hypoallergenic. Two subspecies of alpaca are the most popular in the market: Huacaya alpaca and Suri alpaca. Do you work with Alpaca wool, or perhaps you’ve worked with Llama wool? Alpaca vs Llama: What is the difference? Nowadays, their numbers have recovered to approximately 350,000. Let the similarities confuse you no longer. Much appreciated. Try an alpaca sweater some day, and you won’t ever Although they are centralized in Peru, they can also be found in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. At first glance, they look indistinguishable from llamas, but there are differences! Livestock Guardian Learn how your comment data is processed. If you knit, treat yourself to an alpaca sweater. Here is a list of the difference between Alpacas and llamas. During National Alpaca Farm Days everyone can meet an Alpaca at a local farm! So what is your alpaca vs llama conclusion? The herd all place their poop in one spot. Llamas are pack animals. Fair enough, at first glance, they look alike. Their dispositions: Alpacas are very much herd animals, while llamas are more independent minded. The alpaca, the llama, and their camelid family cousins, vicunas, and guanacos. You might think Alpacas and llamas are the same animals. They are cousins after all. Llamas also generally do not have as much hair on their head and face as alpacas do. Suri alpaca is rarer, thus more expensive. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hi there Merrilyn. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Sep 8, 2018 - Explore Susan Hamel's board "Alpaca vs Llama" on Pinterest. Alpaca inhabits humid and wet foothills, while llama prefers cold and dry plains on the higher altitudes. Let’s examine the similarities between an alpaca vs llamas. They’re believed to come from North America (around 40 million yrs ago). Stay Home, Plant a Garden, Support a charity. I unfortunately accidentally washed my knitted scarf made with baby alpaca wool in the washing machine. 6. 10% of llamas spawn as babies. The Huacaya alpaca has very thick, soft, crimped fleece, similar to sheep wool. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. i always thought that they were pratically the same thing! It’s very difficult for the layperson to tell the difference between these two animals. They’re sometimes used as a source of meat. I created Knit Like Granny to help show 1,000,000 people the benefits of knitting & highlight alternatives to fast fashion. Their neck and body are slim underneath. The huacaya alpaca has a wooly, dense, crimped fleece. Llamas have relatively long, straight backs, better suited to carry packs. Purpose - Alpaca have been bred for 1000's of years for their fine fleece. But each species is unique and useful in different ways. I’ll explain the information in further detail down below. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. They tread lightly, not damaging pastures. Their size: Alpacas generally weigh in at around 150 pounds while llamas can get as heavy as 400 pounds. Despite being native to South America, there are about 300,000 of Alpacas and llamas in the United States. Llama Banana Ears. Suri has silky dreadlock-like hair that grows toward the ground and better suited for weaving. 1. Less than ten percent of the alpaca population are suris. Peru has both llamas and Alpacas! Alpacas are bred for their soft fleece .Because of this, they tend to lead a life of leisure compared to the llama! Llama fiber is more coarse, normally 50-65 microns and not as suitable for garments. Peru, Bolivia, and Chile have the largest number of Alpacas. go back to wool. Llama (Lama glama, Linnaeus 1758) The llama is the larger of the domestic camelids and resembles the guanaco in almost all aspects of behavior and morphology. Ses oreilles sont en forme de banane contrairement à l’alpaga qui a des oreilles droites et pointues. 6 Things You Should to Know Before Getting a Pet Llama or Alpaca. They have a lot of power, and can travel far with a heavy load without needing much water. One of the easiest ways to tell a llama from an alpaca is the "banana ears" on a llama, which arch inwards. That also explains the closer relationship with humans. (Pack animals are used to carry loads during long journeys on foot.) The outer coat is very rough, with a scratchy feel, and is used for ropes and rugs. They come in four variants of coat colors: brown, cream, white, gray. By the end of this post, you’ll know how to tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama! Fully grown llamas approximately weigh between 130 – 200 kg or 400 pounds. The first, and most obvious difference between llama vs alpaca, is their size. The undercoat is much softer, used mainly for handicrafts and clothes. The llama (/ ˈ l ɑː m ə /; Spanish pronunciation: ) (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 very social animals and live with others as a herd.Their wool is very soft and lanolin-free.Llamas can learn simple tasks after a few repetitions. Alpacas have excellent bathroom etiquette. Size. I love knitting and have met so many other fabulous knitters through this site. They make excellent guard animals as they have a protective instinct. Their faces: Llamas have a longer face; an alpaca’s face is a bit more blunt, giving them a “smooshed in” look. Please say hello! Llamas have short, coarse hair, which is double-coated. Their size: Alpacas generally weigh in at around 150 pounds while llamas can get as heavy as 400 pounds. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These banana shaped ears stick almost straight up out from the head. To dig deeper into the great mystery of an alpaca vs llama, I’ve written a description of Llamas and Alpacas and described their similarities. . Llamas grow up to twice the size of alpacas and belong to the camel family. Alpacas are 81 – 99 cm tall at the withers (shoulder area). I enjoy learning and helping others discover the joys of working with yarn. This mistake has led to many alpaca vs. llama debates, as well as many articles like this one trying to help people clear up the differences. They snip the grass, not ripping the whole piece of grass out, including its roots. In 1974, they were endangered. They’ve been repopulating since 2007 in South America. Many people have businesses where they have hand made products from Alpaca and Llama wool. In North America, around 10,000 to 12,000 yrs ago, camelids were extinct. It’s used for knitting and crochet. Most are the second variety. The yarn is perceived as being rougher and less desirable than alpaca yarn, although better-quality llama fiber can be comparable to alpaca. Llamas have a longer face, similar to a kangaroo or horse, and prominent muzzles. There are two breeds of alpaca, Suri and Huacaya. Oops and it felted. I too love baby alpaca yarn. If you buy through a link on this page, I may earn an affiliate commission. At the shoulder, an average alpaca stands between 34 and 36 inches, while a llama generally ranges between 42 and 46 inches. Llama is the Quechua term for L. glama, which is known as qawra by Aymara speakers.Domesticated from the guanaco in the Peruvian Andes some 6000–7000 years ago, the llama was moved into lower elevations by 3,800 years ago, … In Bedrock Edition, there is no spawn egg for trader llamas. This one of the first things to look for, and one of the easiest ways to distinguish an alpaca from a llama. While alpacas and llamas are the ones that are most commonly mixed up, there is also a lot of confusion when it comes to … Great..I bought a stuffed animal thinking it was a llama but now looking at it I see that it resembles an alpaca. Next, I’ve listed the differences, tips to identify them, and fun facts. is primarily raised for its fiber which is very low micron and has no “scratchy” feel. Face – Alpacas – short & blunt | Llamas – long & pronounced; Ears – Alpaca Ears – short & spear-shaped | Llama – long & curved; Height – Alpacas – 81-99cm | Llamas – 1.7-1.8m ; Fleece – Alpaca – fine & fluffy | … Alpaca have short ears, shaped like spears, with a point at the top. The vicuna is known for its fine, long and brown wool and can range in length and weight, about three feet tall and can weigh about 150 pounds. They’re curious, quick to learn new things and approaches people without hesitation. First thought to be domesticated in ancient times by the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu was a hive of activity for breeding and rearing these creatures. They are both from the same camelid family. It depends on the individual animal, but alpacas are generally friendlier. If you’re alpaca farmer or llama farmer, you must have to deal with people confusing your animals for the other all the time! Both animals are a native of the country and have been a part of the local customs, traditions, and history for a long time. Llama fiber is lightweight but incredibly warm. The camelids (alpaca and llama) are quite similar to each other in fiber and background, and though they bear some similarity to sheep, the differences between the fibers of these herding animals are outstanding. There is a significant difference in their weight too. They are also able to protect themselves and can ward off animals such as coyotes and feral dogs. The llama is the biggest animal of the three. An adult llama in good condition that has been properly trained for packing can carry approximately 25 to 30 percent of his body weight, or around 100 pounds. Yes they are like camels without humps and less appetite for spitting, I ran in s field of Llamas… they ignored me… I was about fifty years old… at the time…. Llama Or Alpaca Quiz Llama versus Alpaca, The Difference between alpacas and llamas,fun facts about alpacas, llama vs alpaca pictures,fun facts about llamas, a childrens learning game, The Difference Between A Llama And An Alpaca. There were 6000 left. By Marygrace Taylor. Alpaca vs llama. The personality and disposition of a llama and alpaca are quite different. Guanacos are one of the largest mammals on the continent. i never knew this much about them. […] the Inca Empire’s heyday, Machu Picchu also provides excellent opportunities to see firsthand the differences between llamas and alpacas. The undercoat is softer and more delicate, sometimes used for garments.