Common Name: Alpaca
Scientific Name: Vicugna pacos
Family: Camelidae (same family as llamas, camels, and vicuñas)
Origin: Domesticated in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile about 6,000 years ago
Status: Domesticated species (not found in the wild), but descended from the wild vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)
Size: 3 feet (90 cm) at the shoulder, about 4.5–5 feet (1.3–1.5 m) tall at the head
Weight: 48–84 kg (106–185 lbs)
Body: Slender with long legs and neck
Fur: Dense, soft fleece (one of the finest natural fibers in the world), comes in 22+ recognized colors from white, fawn, brown, grey, black, to multi-colored
Head: Small, with spear-shaped ears (shorter than llama ears)
Lifespan: 15–20 years (some up to 25 years)
Personality: Gentle, curious, docile, but can be shy; usually less aggressive than llamas
Social Needs: Herd animals—must be kept in groups (they become stressed alone)
Behavior:
Communicate with soft humming sounds, clucking, and occasional alarm calls
May spit when threatened, annoyed, or establishing dominance (less frequent than llamas)
Intelligence: Can be halter-trained and follow basic routines
Type: Herbivore, grazing animal
Main Foods: Grasses, hay, and forage plants
Supplements: Mineral licks and small amounts of grain (only if needed)
Water: Fresh water must always be available
Special Note: They are very efficient grazers, requiring less food than sheep of similar size
Native Habitat: High Andes of South America (cold, dry mountain regions at 3,500–5,000 m elevation)
Domesticated Habitat: Now kept worldwide for fiber production and as pets/companions
Breeding: Induced ovulators (females ovulate after mating)
Gestation: About 11.5 months (345 days)
Litter Size: Usually a single cria (baby alpaca)
Crias: Born weighing 6–9 kg (13–20 lbs), able to stand and nurse within hours
Primary Use: Fiber production (softer and warmer than sheep wool, hypoallergenic)
Secondary Uses: Companions, guard animals for smaller livestock, eco-friendly grazers
Not Typically Used For: Meat (unlike llamas, though in some regions alpaca meat is consumed)
