Science & Technology

Related to llamas, these mammals produce yarn used to make soft clothing.

There is a good chance that some soft socks in your dresser drawer or the mittens and hats you wear on a cold winter day are made from alpaca wool. Their fur is used to produce a variety of clothing, making alpacas – which live in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile in South America –  a valuable commodity. Though smaller and with different traits, alpacas closely resemble llamas. Maybe their most interesting feature is that they can spit up to ten feet!

The Evolution of Alpacas

Scientists believe that alpacas began roaming the earth around 6,000 years ago. They descended from the now nearly extinct vicuñas. As part of the Camelidae family, alpacas join llamas, camels, vicuñas, and guanacos. The family has existed for more than 40 million years and has gradually split into distinct species that migrated to different parts of the world. Alpacas wound up on the continent of South America and continue to thrive there today.

There are two breeds: Suri, which make up 10% of the population, while the Huacaya are the remaining 90%. Huacayas have a thicker fleece coat that keeps them warm in the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains.

Alpaca Appearance and Behavior

Alpacas are smaller than their llama relatives, typically standing just under three feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 90 to 150 pounds (llamas hit the scales at around 300 pounds or more). Their fleecy fur comes in a variety of colors, including brown, black, gray, cream, tan, white, and even spotted. Blankets, socks, hats, and mittens are often made from the woolly coats of alpacas. Their padded feet protect them from the rough terrain they navigate in their habitat, and their long necks and cleft upper lips help with grazing for food. A typical ruminant has a four-chambered stomach, but alpacas have three.

Alpacas are social animals that live in large herds split into family groups. Each consists of an alpha male, several females, and their babies. These animals are known for spitting impressive distances (up to ten feet) and kicking at any potential threat. A female will spit when she is uninterested in an onlooking male, and both sexes will spit when their food is being threatened. An alpaca preparing to spit will hum, drool, breathe rapidly, and stomp feet.

When it comes to potential threats, they may make sharp sounds while inhaling that warn the herd of a possible intruder. Alpacas can be aggressive, but they are generally kind, gentle, and intelligent.

Remarkably observant animals, alpacas are relatively easy to train, especially when a yummy treat rewards their obedience. Today, they are being trained as therapy animals that help people who suffer from pain, depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

All the Sounds

Alpacas are known for making a variety of sounds:

Humming – Often made between momma and baby, can be a sign of distress but also indicates they are curious, happy, worried, or cautious.

Screeching – This is used to scare away any threats or show dominance.

Snorting – Happens when their personal space is being invaded.

Screaming – Is unpleasant and extraordinarily loud, used to convey discomfort from mishandling or an attack.

Grumbling – Warns others in the herd.

Clucking – Females cluck when they are concerned for their baby; males do it as a sign of friendly behavior.

Preferred Diet and Potential Predators

As herbivores, alpacas do best on a high-fiber, plant-based diet. Their food is mostly hay and grass, though they will eat some fruits and grains when available. A constant supply of clean, fresh water is also important to overall health.

Unfortunately, these cute creatures face many different predators. Coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, and dogs pose a threat. Yet alpacas are highly attentive, and they can aggressively fight off would-be attackers.

Alpaca Reproduction

Female alpacas reach sexual maturity around one year, while males take a little longer (two to three years). After breeding, females are pregnant for about 11 to 12 months. They give birth to one offspring called a cria, which weighs 15 to 19 pounds at birth and can stand within one to two hours. On average, alpacas live to be 15 to 20 years old, though the oldest on record was 28.

Similar to llamas, alpacas are sweet, adorable, and often domesticated farm animals. Their fur is of great use to humans, as is their protective and obedient nature. The plethora of noises produced by the animals is a testament to their intelligence and their social and communicative nature.

1. Alpacas live on the continent of South America.
2. An alpaca’s soft, fleecy fur is used to make clothing, blankets, and other items.
3. They make noises that express a wide range of emotions and moods.