They are indeed two distinct species, and there are quite a few variations between them. Size: Llamas are significantly larger than alpacas, sometimes described as twice the size. An adult alpaca typically weighs between and pounds, while adult llamas can reach mature weights of to pounds, with some reaching more than pounds.
In terms of height, alpacas are about a foot shorter than llamas: Llamas measure 48 inches at the shoulder, while alpacas come in at 36 inches. Ears: This is one of the hallmark differences: Llamas are noted for their distinctive banana-shaped ears, while alpacas have short, straight ears.
Body Shape: Alpacas have slightly sloping backs with tails that set on sloped hindquarters, while llamas have straight backs with high-set tails. Facial Hair: Alpacas have furry faces, but llamas possess only a small amount of facial hair. Coat Type: Llamas have a double coat with a coarse outer layer, while alpacas are noted for their soft fleece.
Similarities Between Alpacas And Llamas Being camelids, alpacas and llamas do share some common traits. Foodies: Both are herbivores, mainly preferring grass or hay. Llama crias typically weigh 20 to 30 pounds at birth while alpaca crias generally range from 15 to 18 pounds. They do occasionally spit at people, but it is usually when we get caught in the crossfire between alpacas that are annoyed with each other.
Fiber: Both are fiber producers, but alpacas annually produce more usable fiber than llamas. Lifespan: Both species live in the range of 15 to 25 years, though llamas may have a slightly longer lifespan, up to 30 years. Coats of Many Colors Luckily for fleece enthusiasts everywhere, llamas and alpacas are found in a multitude of colors, including solid, spotted and bicolored varieties.
The Alpaca Owners Association recognizes 16 official colors within its registry, including white, beige, bay black, true black, three shades of fawn, three shades of brown, three shades of silver gray and three shades of rose gray. The International Lama Registry is a nonprofit that maintains an official genealogical registry system and research services for owners of subspecies of the genus Lama , which includes the llama Lama glama , guanaco Lama guanicoe , vicuna Lama vicugna and cross-breds.
It recognizes 15 colors of llamas: white, cream and black, as well as dilute, medium, and intense shades of brown, red, gray brown and gray. Additionally, the AOA recognizes four leg color patterns, 12 head and neck color patterns, and 20 body color patterns. In winter, grazing supplemented with hay and a small hard feed daily. Llamas need fresh water available at all times. Shearing: As with sheep, llamas require shearing through summer to prevent heat stroke.
Stomach Compartments: 3 Toes per foot: 2 Name for baby llama: Cria. The Llama is a very intelligent animal and very easy to train. In just one to five repetitions they will learn and remember many skills. Llamas can be trained to do lots of things such as accept a halter, being led on a lead and they can be trained to get in and out of a vehicle, and they can also be trained to pull a cart or carry a pack.
Llamas are very sociable animals but they do need the companionship of their own kind. Llamas are a very gentle, shy and a very curious animal. Llamas are calm in nature and have common sense, which make them easy for anyone, even children to handle. Llamas are very enjoyable animals and they are fun to do things with, however, most llamas do not seek affection and they prefer not to be handled excessively. Llamas communicate with each other by ear position, body language, spitting and humming.
Llamas usually only spit at other llamas to establish dominance and do not spit at people. The habit of spitting is a defence mechanism. However, usually, a llama would prefer to run away than to confront their assumed aggressor, and is not always a frequent occurrence. That is believed to be due in part to their shy disposition. If a llama is agitated, he will lay his ears back. One may determine how agitated the llama is by the materials in the spit.
The more irritated the llama is, the further back into each of the three stomach compartments it will try to draw materials from, for its spit. When correctly reared spitting at a human is a rare thing.
Corral boards on the outside of the fence can help keep it secure. Certain plants are toxic to llamas , and you need to ensure that any dangerous plants are removed from the pasture before a llama is allowed to roam there.
A local governmental agricultural department should be able to tell you what regional plants you need to protect llamas from. You also should not let a healthy adult llama graze primarily on an alfalfa pasture; alfalfa is very high in protein and calcium, an excessive amount for most llamas; it can lead to kidney stones and obesity.
You need to take your time introducing a new llama to your pasture as they need to acclimate to the new food source over a period of a few weeks. Otherwise, the llama is at risk of developing bloat and other dangerous side effects. If you are de-icing areas that llamas walk on, do not use caustic or salt-based products as these can damage their feet!
Chronically dirty feet can lead to foot infections. You should also have a shady area in their outdoor enclosure that they can access on the hotter days of the year. Clean water should be easily accessible wherever llamas prefer to spend their time! If you are caring for many llamas, you should have multiple pastures for them, so you can let unused portions of your pasture regenerate while one is in use. See a more detailed explanation here.
A bale of hay will feed an adult llama for a week or so. Llamas don't particularly like to be shut up in a barn, but newborns and their mothers need extra protection. The adults are clever enough that if it starts to hail or thunderstorm they will normally run for shelter.
Usually a three-sided shelter is sufficient, so that they can get out of a driving rain or get some shade. As well as protection from rain and snow they need to have shade in the summer, even though you will often see them lying in the sun bellies up.
Most of them seem to prefer to stay out in the rain or snow, as long as it is not driven by a strong wind. They sleep lying down with their feet tucked under their body, and the wool hanging down on their sides protects them from the cold. Llamas make quite a variety of sounds. The most common sound is a humming noise. A female will hum to her cria baby llamas , which seems to reassure the baby that mom is still around.
The crias have a softer hum. If an animal is not sure about what is going on, such as being penned up, it may issue an "uncertain" hum or even a "worried" hum.
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