Or have a question? Alpaca vs Llama Comparison in Detail 8 Interesting Facts About Machu Picchu in Peru • Our Whole Village. Please say hello! They’re similar, such as being from the same family, Camelidae (camel family). But they’re different creatures. Alpaca vs Llama . Pleasant! It’s incredibly soft and warm. Size. How can I quickly tell an Alpaca apart from a Llama? Alpacas don’t spit often, but they spit at each other. Size. In 1974, they were endangered. They stand 32-39 inches at the shoulder. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Generally, their wool creates a higher quality yarn than llamas. At the shoulder, an average alpaca stands between 34 and 36 inches, while a llama generally ranges between 42 and 46 inches. Learn how your comment data is processed. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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, … Llamas don’t have much hair on their heads but a bit on their necks. The undercoat is much softer, used mainly for handicrafts and clothes. Llama vs. Alpaca. Huacaya has short, crimpy, and fluffy fleece. At the shoulder, an average alpaca stands between 34 and 36 inches, while a llama generally ranges between 42 and 46 inches. 6. They have a lifespan of about 15-20 years. They have a lot of power, and can travel far with a heavy load without needing much water. An average alpaca stands around 35 inches tall while an average llama stands around 45 inches tall. ... Alpaca garments – shopping guide. Very intelligent, some people teach them to do tricks, like a dog! Michigan has just over 8,000 registered alpacas which is only about 30% of Ohio’s 26,000 alpacas. … The rough outer coat is used for lead ropes, rugs and wall hangings. This is the difference between an alpaca and a llama, both members of the camelid family. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They’re curious, quick to learn new things and approaches people without hesitation. Hi there Merrilyn. The undercoat is softer and more delicate, sometimes used for garments. One exception is baby llama fiber which can be very soft and below 30 microns so it has a similar feel to alpaca. They’re in the same family but all different. Alpacas are bred for their soft fleece .Because of this, they tend to lead a life of leisure compared to the llama! The two have been traced from the Inca period. 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. I created Knit Like Granny to help show 1,000,000 people the benefits of knitting & highlight alternatives to fast fashion. At first glance, alpacas may resemble their larger camelid cousin the llama, but they are quite different. Llamas have short, coarse hair, which is double-coated. If you buy through a link on this page, I may earn an affiliate commission. My posts contain affiliate links. Llama ears are long, curved, and have ears shaped like bananas almost. Alpacas have a more rounded, sloping body. Their neck and body are slim underneath. Livestock Guardian Llamas have a longer face, similar to a kangaroo or horse, and prominent muzzles. Suri alpaca is rarer, thus more expensive. Since llamas are used for carrying packs, they can hold loads up to 25 – 30 percent of their body weight for 8 – 13 km. Alpacas faces are short, have a blunt muzzle, and are very fluffy. There were 6000 left. 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. Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclosure | Disclaimer | Cookie Policy. At first glance, they look indistinguishable from llamas, but there are differences! Although they are centralized in Peru, they can also be found in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Great..I bought a stuffed animal thinking it was a llama but now looking at it I see that it resembles an alpaca. Cusco in particular has a large population of these creatures. Nowadays, their numbers have recovered to approximately 350,000. Llamas are pack animals. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It’s used for knitting and crochet. Alpacas, however, cannot protect themselves. - Dedicated to Twaimz for being a Llama lover. Alpaca vs. Llama. There are approximately 300,000 alpacas within the United States. 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. 1. A great difference between an alpaca and a llama is in their height and weight. […] the Inca Empire’s heyday, Machu Picchu also provides excellent opportunities to see firsthand the differences between llamas and alpacas. 6 Things You Should to Know Before Getting a Pet Llama or Alpaca. 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. For things like apparel, clothing, scarves and more. I love the way you explained it nice info alpacas are found in South America region and I love them. This one of the first things to look for, and one of the easiest ways to distinguish an alpaca from a llama. Llamas spit at each other, when showing they’re more dominant, and to make sure the ‘lower class’ is disciplined. Both llama and alpaca originate from the Andes in South America. The huacaya alpaca has a wooly, dense, crimped fleece. Fair enough, at first glance, they look alike. Their size: Alpacas generally weigh in at around 150 pounds while llamas can get as heavy as 400 pounds. Learn more. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. That also explains the closer relationship with humans. Sep 8, 2018 - Explore Susan Hamel's board "Alpaca vs Llama" on Pinterest. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You can see there is a difference between a llama and alpaca. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Suri Alpaca fiber doesn’t have a crimp and suited to weaving. Fun Fact: Huacaya fleece lacks lanolin, making it hypoallergenic. It depends on the individual animal, but alpacas are generally friendlier. By the end of this post, you’ll know how to tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama! I love knitting and have met so many other fabulous knitters through this site. At first, these south american animals from the camel family may look indistinguishable, as llamas and alpacas have a lot in common. . They always spawn when a wandering trader is spawned using a spawn egg or by using the /summon command, although a trader … Though they look plump and rounded, it’s their hair. Their dispositions: Alpacas are very much herd animals, while llamas are more independent minded. Much appreciated. Quelles sont les différences principales entre le lama et l’alpaga ? The alpaca, the llama, and their camelid family cousins, vicunas, and guanacos. Llama vs. Alpaca: Similarities. Yes they have such gorgeous faces. The alpaca They tread lightly, not damaging pastures. The smaller alpaca isn’t really suited for heavy loads. Something I forgot? While the former produces a shorter and fluffy type of fiber, the latter produces a longer fiber. Alpacas have shaggy wool that’s much finer and softer as well. Michigan alpaca farmers are growing and I do expect this figure to increase year over year. They’re herd animals. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. i never knew this much about them. So what is your alpaca vs llama conclusion? Hope my one year old can’t tell . They have long, skinny necks, big bodies, and a small gray long face with pointy banana shaped ears. But each species is unique and useful in different ways. They’re also very shy around people. go back to wool. Llama Banana Ears. The easiest way is to look at their ears. Purpose - Alpaca have been bred for 1000's of years for their fine fleece. Less than ten percent of the alpaca population are suris. Here is a list of the difference between Alpacas and llamas. Oops and it felted. They have a lot of thick, soft fur, usually on top of the head and around the neck. They hum! The more agitated the alpaca is, the further it goes into its intestinal stomachs to bring up spit. Alpacas have small faces and shorter ears, and their faces are covered in fur. Alpacas have excellent bathroom etiquette. The alpaca also produces more fleece than its larger cousin and in a much greater variety of colors. Geez they look so similar but now thanks to your helpful post, I can spot the differences. (Yes, I’m a real person :) ) Thanks for being here. Do you know your Llama's compared to yo Alpaca's? Llama Image Credit: ZEBULON72, Pixabay. If you knit, treat yourself to an alpaca sweater. Llamas are more aggressive and suspicious of strangers. Alpacas and llama belong to the same Camelidae family. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Llamas and alpacas have lanolin-free fleece, unlike sheep. Despite being native to South America, there are about 300,000 of Alpacas and llamas in the United States. I unfortunately accidentally washed my knitted scarf made with baby alpaca wool in the washing machine. Next, I’ve listed the differences, tips to identify them, and fun facts. They’ve been repopulating since 2007 in South America. Alpacas are shy, timid, and more likely to ‘fly’ than ‘fight’ if provoked or threatened. Also, guards for livestock like sheep and others. A big lesson learnt. Fun Fact: The scientific name of Alpacas is ‘Vicugna pacos.’ ‘Vicugna’ sounds like ‘vicuna,’ and vice-versa. Domesticated Alpacas are descendants of the wild South American ‘vicuña,’ from the camelid family, native to the central Andes. They both eat feed and grass and are both quite calm creatures. Though alpacas and llamas belong to the same family, the two breeds are quite different in many respects. A llama is independent, and aren’t herd animals. We use cookies on this site to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience. There is a significant difference in their weight too. Important Note: There are four similar animals all related to each other. One of the easiest ways to tell a llama from an alpaca is the "banana ears" on a llama, which arch inwards. In North America, around 10,000 to 12,000 yrs ago, camelids were extinct. 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. Their camelid cousin, vicuñas, are smaller than alpacas and guanacos and are more delicate. There are, however, a few telltale signs that you can look for that will help you distinguish between the two. They are both from the same camelid family. Llama fiber is lightweight but incredibly warm. Llama vs Alpaca – Quick Facts – 11 Key Differences. They’re believed to come from North America (around 40 million yrs ago). 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Alpaca ears are short and shaped like spears. They exhibit a range of differences between them, and it is always good to be aware of those. 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 snip the grass, not ripping the whole piece of grass out, including its roots. 2. Let the similarities confuse you no longer. Llama vs. Alpaca - Llama and alpaca are types of hoofed mammals that belong to the camel family. They come in four variants of coat colors: brown, cream, white, gray. Yes, you can actually adopt one of these furry cuties. Guanacos are larger than vicuñas but smaller than llamas. They are also able to protect themselves and can ward off animals such as coyotes and feral dogs. Learn More. The yarn is perceived as being rougher and less desirable than alpaca yarn, although better-quality llama fiber can be comparable to alpaca. They’re also quite heavy, able to reach up to 400 pounds. Older information online will state Michigan has a very large population, but this is actually false. I’d love to hear your thoughts. By Marygrace Taylor. Sign up for your Modern Farmer Weekly Newsletter. The llama is the biggest animal of the three. Alpacas are significantly smaller compared to llamas. The wool from the first shearing is the finest, and is called baby alpaca. These are two exclusive South American camels with characteristic appearances. Alpaca Vs Llama – The Verdict. These cookies do not store any personal information. See more ideas about alpaca, llama, cute animals. I love knitting with baby alpaca yarn, it is super soft and squooshy. Great to hear my post was helpful. Their faces: Llamas have a longer face; an alpaca’s face is a bit more blunt, giving them a “smooshed in” look. The llama is larger than an alpaca. 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 | … We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. After vicuñas, llama fiber is precious. The llama’s history differs from the alpaca. 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. Jul 23, 2018 Grafissimo Getty Images. They stay close to their herd. . Most are the second variety. Alpacas are domesticated versions of vicugña pacos, South American ruminants that live high in the Andes. Their faces: Llamas have a longer face; an alpaca’s face is a bit more blunt, giving them a “smooshed in” look. Alpacas generally weigh between 48 – 84 kg or 150 pounds. You’ll wonder what you were missing! 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. Sources: openherd.com, lifeandscience.org, mountairyalpacas.com, marylandalpacas.org, Plus: See more stories from Alpaca Week ». 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). Another thing to quickly tell them apart is to observe their ears. Thanks for your kind words Stuart. I’m Jodie Morgan, owner and creator of Knit Like Granny. The same goes for weight as llamas are heavier than alpacas. Such as ponchos, hats, scarves, socks, sweaters, blankets, even toys. Alpaca have short ears, shaped like spears, with a point at the top.