Science & Technology

Llamas are often called the friendliest animals in the world.

Llamas are most commonly found in parts of South America. Often called the friendliest animals in the world because of their sweet disposition and seemingly empathetic personality, scientists categorize them as “charismatic megafaunas” that appeal to humans. Several other animals join llamas in this category, including Giant Pandas, bald eagles, and male lions.

Ancestry and Evolution

Around 82 million years ago, Llamas wandered the lands of North America. Three ancestry lines of the Camelidae family, including Camelops, Camelus, and Lama, were once found in what we now know as Florida. Approximately 3 million years ago, the animals migrated to South America and were eventually unable to be found in North America.

Over time, the mammals adapted to the South American landscape. They evolved with shorter legs that allowed them to navigate the mountainous Andes terrain. Years of domestication and selective breeding have created an extraordinarily gentle creature with the ability to thrive at elevations above 14,000 feet above sea level. The kind mammals were used for centuries as animals of transport. They were employed by several groups of Native Americans to carry goods, food, and supplies. This earned them a high status within the Incan culture.

The four different species of llamas are so closely related that they can crossbreed successfully. The four  are llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos. Their closest relative is an alpaca.

Appearance

While llamas can greatly vary in color and size, the most common range in height is from 5.5 to 6 feet tall and weight from 290 to 440 pounds. The fur of a llama can be brown, black, white, or gray. It can also be spotted or piebald, which means black and white. Their soft fur is highly sought for clothing material.

The mammals have short tails and tongues and lack upper teeth, which contributes to their reputation as harmless. They have long ears that double as mood indicators. If ears are standing up, the animal is happy, relaxed, and possibly curious. If ears are pinned back, however, it indicates the animal is fearful or agitated.

Much like camels, llamas have a lengthy large intestine that allows them to go long periods without water consumption.

Diet and Habitat of Llamas

Llamas are herbivores, meaning they eat plants, fruits, and vegetables but not meat. Their favorite foods are bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, corn silage, or grass. The mammal eats around 10 to 12 pounds of food each day, and it has a stomach is capable of digesting low-quality, high-cellulose fare.

The animals are primarily found in South American countries such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. In the late 1900s, farmers began shipping llamas to North America, Australia, and Europe. Today, there are around 40,000 llamas living in North America. Farmers use them for livestock guards but can utilize only one llama for the job because two would connect with one another rather than watch the flock they are intended to protect.

Reproduction and Lifespan

There are three different breeding options. The first is harem mating, when a male is put in the same area as several females. The second is field mating, for which one male and one female are put together for procreation. The third is hand mating, where one male and one female are observed together. If they choose not to mate on the first day, they are separated for a day and then reunited for a second try.

Female llamas are induced ovulators, meaning they do not release eggs on a cycle. Outside stimulus induces the release of eggs, and often a female will become pregnant after just one mating session.

Baby llamas are born after about 11 1/2 months in their mother’s womb. They are called crias, a Spanish word meaning babies. At birth, they weigh between 20 and 31 pounds. Because of a llama’s short tongue, the mothers are unable to lick their young. Instead, they hum and nuzzle their babies to provide comfort. The babies feed from their mother for the first five or six months of life before they begin eating grass and other foods.

Predators

Domesticated llamas have few predators because they are kept safe by their owners. In the wild, however, llamas watch out for several predators. On the list are cougars, mountain lions, and snow leopards. Over the years, humans have hunted llamas for their meat, hides, and fur.

Llamas are susceptible to a variety of bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases. They also are prone to different cancers and heart conditions that are life-threatening their lives. Their populations are plentiful, and they are not currently at risk of endangerment.

1. Over time, llamas adapted to the South American landscape, evolving with shorter legs that allowed them to navigate the mountainous Andes terrain.
2. Their long ears double as mood indicators: Ears standing up, the animal is happy, relaxed, and possibly curious; ears pinned back, the animal is fearful or agitated.
3. Much like camels, llamas have a lengthy large intestine that allows them to go long periods without water consumption.