Alpaca

Scientific Name: Lama pacos

Fast Fact:
Alpacas spit when they are angry.

It can be easy to confuse alpacas, llamas, and guanacos because they are three very closely related species. In fact, they are so closely related that they’re classified together into one group of animals known as Genus Lama. The animals of Genus Lama are also related to camels and therefore are members of a larger family, Family Camelidae.

STATUS: No longer found in the wild, alpacas and their close relative, the llama, only persist in domestication. The guanaco, on the other hand, is the only species of Genus Lama surviving in the wild. Alpacas were domesticated by the Incans who wove royal robes from their wool. Today, humans continue to find alpacas helpful. While some alpacas are farmed for their meat, they are primarily raised for their warm, lightweight wool which can be used in parkas, sleeping bags, and fine coat linings.

HABITAT: Fossil evidence shows that alpacas originated in North America, but were then forced to migrate into South America during the Ice Ages. There they settled into the high plateaus of Bolivia and Peru. Although now domesticated and living in many countries, their largest population remains in South America. Alpacas thrive at high altitudes of 13,000 to 16,000 feet where humidity levels are low.

DIET: Alpacas are herbivorous, grazing on grass and brush. In captivity, they can eat up to four pounds of alfalfa and grain per day.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Alpacas have long bodies and necks with a small head and pointy fur covered ears. Adult males are three to three and a half feet tall at the shoulders and weighs up to two hundred pounds. Alpacas have soft hair that covers their body uniformly and is usually black, brown, or white, but can also be a mix of colors. The hair is also quite long, growing up to two feet in length, sometimes touching the ground.

Alpacas share some characteristics with their camel relatives. One is their long, strong foot bone called a canon bone, a fusion of the third and fourth foot bones into one. Also, their two toes are not encased in hooves, but rather are padded and spread nearly flat while on the ground. This adaptation makes it possible for alpacas to tolerate walking on rough terrain. Another trait shared with camels is their three-chambered ruminating stomach and chewing of their cud.

Surviving in High Altitudes

The alpacas body was made to thrive in high altitudes both inside and out. On their outsides, alpacas have long, fleecy wool coats which keep their bodies warm in extreme cold. On their insides, alpacas have a much higher amount of red blood cells than do other mammals. These red blood cells are also oval shaped instead of the usual circular shape. These blood adaptations give alpacas hemoglobin that is extra rich in oxygen, a necessity for survival in high altitudes where oxygen levels are low.