Alpaca belongs to the Camelidae family that includes llamas, vicunas and guanacos, Bactrian and Dromedary camels etc. Their scientific name is Vicugna pacos. Alpacas are docile and soft animals that are kept as pets and cattle around the world.
They also bear a special fiber that has been described as smoother than silk, stronger than mohair and finer than cashmere. It is also flame and water resistant.
In ancient times, their fiber was used to make clothes and blankets for royalty. They use different vocalizations for communicating with each other and humming is the most common of all of them.
Quick Facts: –
- There are two different types of alpacas: Suri and the Huacaya. They can successfully cross-breed with llamas.
- The resulting crossbred offspring are known as Huarizo.
- The average gestation period of female alpaca lasts about 11.5 months. Their babies are known as “Crias”.
- They are herbivorous animals that generally feed upon grass leaves and stems. They have a three chambered stomach.
- These animals use a communal dung pile. This is one of the reasons why they can be successfully house-trained.
- The average lifespan of an Alpaca can range anywhere from 18 to 20 years.
- Alpaca come in at least 22 natural colors which is way more than any other animal.
- They are social creatures and can become very stressed if separated from their companions.
- Alpacas are one of the most efficient eaters. They do not overeat at all and on average consume 2 pounds of hay every day.
- They are found mostly in south american in Bolivia – Peru – Chile – Ecuador.
