Alpaca

The alpaca is a domesticated South American camelid, related to the llama. Traditionally it was kept in herds on the high plains of the Andes in southern Peru, western Bolivia, Ecuador and northern Chile. Today alpacas live on farms around the world, especially in North America, Europe and Australia.

It is raised mainly for its soft fleece, which comes in dozens of natural shades. The card says alpacas hum softly when they are content. There are two modern breeds, the Suri and the Huacaya. People have kept alpacas for at least 5,000 to 6,000 years, and their fibre is used for knitted and woven items much like sheep's wool.

Alpaca or llama?

Alpacas look like llamas but are visibly shorter. Alpacas are mostly bred for their wool, while llamas are valued as pack animals and guards for livestock because they climb well.

Both are thought to have been bred from wild relatives at least 5,000 to 6,000 years ago: the alpaca from the small vicuña, the llama from the larger guanaco. Their fibre is highly valued.

Two kinds of fleece

There are two breeds: Suri alpacas, whose fibre grows in straight locks, and Huacaya alpacas, whose fibre is wavy and grows in bundles.

The fibre is used for knitted and woven items, much like sheep's wool. Alpacas talk with body language and sometimes spit to show dominance or when upset. Male alpacas are more aggressive than females. Quiz data says an alpaca weighs about 69 kg and can live about 20 years.

On the globe

The model shows an alpaca with its fluffy fleece. Look at the thick woolly coat and the long neck.