LindaOH
Sometimes mistaken as a llama, the alpaca is a species of South American camelid. Other members of this family include camels, vicunas and guanacos. Alpacas are much smaller than llamas and are not bred to be used as working animals; they are bred for their fiber (fleece).
Alpacas are kept in herds in the Andes of Southern Peru, Western Bolivia, Ecuador and Northern Chile at an altitude of 11,500-16,000 feet. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items and is similar to sheep’s wool but is warmer, is soft and luxurious, not prickly, and does not contain lanolin so it’s hypoallergenic.
An alpaca is approximately 32-39 inches high at the shoulders and generally weighs between 106 and 185 pounds. The fleece comes in more than 50 natural colors. Alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years; and the Camelidae family first appeared in the Americas 40-45 million years ago.
There are two breeds of alpaca: huacaya, which comprises 90% of alpacas and has thicker fleece; and it will be in the higher altitudes and suri, which comprises 10% of alpacas and has thinner fleece; and it will be in the lower altitudes. Alpacas feed on pasture grass, hay or silage.
The sounds that they make are humming, snorting, grumbling, clicking, screaming and screeching.
We have an alpaca farm down the road from us; and it’s always enjoyable to see which color alpaca is visible. They have off-white, black, brown and cinnamon-colored animals. When the animals are not sheared, they look very similar to the alpacas in the picture. They look much thinner after their fleece is sheared.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
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Have you ever seen an alpaca?
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Yes
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No
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I have all kinds of wonderful things about this animal but I’ve never seen one. Not even in a zoo.
In our country, we can see alpaca only in the zoo.
I think I’ve seen a similar animal in the zoo years ago. But I’m not sure she was not a lama.
I am an animal lover and I want to see an alpaca live. Maybe I have been to a zoo where there is an alpaca but I don’t remember.
They look really cute and friendly. I was thinking of Dr. Seuss when I saw them… not sure why. I enjoyed this article !
They actually are quite mellow. Thank you.
Llamas always look so cute and fluffy. I have only seen them in zoos.
Our neighbors down the way have a herd. Is that what a group of over 100 is called or are they a flock? Anyone know the right term?
Herd is the correct term. Thank you for stopping by.
Thanks for educating me ~ Sometimes people never answer!
So cute, and I thought they’re llamas!!
These are very interesting animals. I saw them at a petting zoo years ago. Dustin loved them.
Most alpacas make very good pets if they are treated well and the owners are realistic in their expectations. … It is possible to have a single alpaca, but it is not a pleasant existence for the animal. Alpacas are herd animals and are instinctively gregarious, as are other domestic livestock