They usually weigh between 48 and 90 kilograms (106 and 198 pounds). Īn adult alpaca generally is between 81 and 99 centimetres (32 and 39 inches) in height at the shoulders ( withers). In trade, distinctions are made between alpacas and the several styles of mohair and luster. In the textile industry, "alpaca" primarily refers to the hair of Peruvian alpacas, but more broadly it refers to a style of fabric originally made from alpaca hair, such as mohair, Icelandic sheep wool, or even high-quality wool from other breeds of sheep. In some cases, alpha males will immobilize the head and neck of a weaker or challenging male in order to show their strength and dominance. Male alpacas are more aggressive than females, and tend to establish dominance within their herd group. The most common is spitting to show dominance when they are in distress, fearful, or feel agitated. The fiber comes in more than 52 natural colors as classified in Peru, 12 as classified in Australia, and 16 as classified in the United States.Īlpacas communicate through body language. These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles, and ponchos, in South America, as well as sweaters, socks, coats, and bedding in other parts of the world. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, similar to sheep's wool. Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas, and unlike llamas, they were not bred to be working animals, but were bred specifically for their fiber. There are two breeds of alpaca: the Suri alpaca and the Huacaya alpaca.Īlpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of Southern Peru, Western Bolivia, Ecuador, and Northern Chile at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 metres (11,000 to 16,000 feet) above sea level. Both species are believed to have been domesticated from their wild relatives, the vicuña and guanaco. The two animals are closely related and can successfully crossbreed. However, alpacas are often noticeably smaller than llamas. It is similar to, and often confused with, the llama.
The alpaca ( Lama pacos) is a species of South American camelid mammal.
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