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Entry 999Filed under Breeding

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Alpacas

Alpacas are camelids with two distinct fleece types, subtle body-language cues and a strong need for herd companionship. Here are eight facts worth knowing.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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Alpacas are camelids, not sheep, and their fleece, social habits and everyday care are more distinctive than their familiar woolly appearance suggests. Here are eight useful facts that separate alpacas from common misconceptions.

1. Alpacas are members of the camel family

Alpacas belong to the South American camelid family, alongside llamas, vicuñas and guanacos. They are domesticated animals descended from wild vicuñas; llamas, by contrast, descend from guanacos, according to the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency guidance.

Alpacas and llamas also differ in typical size and role. Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station describes llamas as about twice the size of alpacas: llamas have traditionally been used as pack animals, while alpacas are raised primarily for their fine fiber (Rutgers FS917: Llamas and Alpacas).

2. There are two distinct alpaca fleece types

An alpaca’s fleece is generally classified as huacaya or suri. The difference is visible in how the fiber grows:

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  • Huacaya: Short, crimped fleece grows outward, giving the animal a woolly appearance.
  • Suri: Longer fiber hangs in locks rather than standing out from the body.

Huacayas are the more common type in the UK, according to the UK government’s camelid guidance.

3. Alpacas communicate with more than sound

A soft hum is a familiar alpaca sound, but communication also includes other vocalizations and body language. Neck posture, ear position and tail position all help convey information, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

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Reading those signals matters because alpacas are prey animals. The Smithsonian sums up their defensive strategy this way: “Alpacas are social herd animals, and their only defense is flight.”

4. Spitting at people is not their default greeting

Alpacas can spit, but the popular image of one routinely spitting at visitors is misleading. The Smithsonian says they rarely spit at people unless frightened or abused. They may spit at one another, including to register a complaint.

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5. Alpacas need other alpacas for company

Alpacas are herd animals, not well suited to living alone. The Smithsonian says an alpaca needs the companionship of at least one other alpaca to thrive. That social requirement is important for anyone considering keeping them: human attention or the presence of another kind of livestock is not a substitute for alpaca company.

6. Their feet are padded, not hoofed

Unlike many livestock animals, alpacas have soft, padded feet. The pads compact the ground less than hooves do, according to University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension.

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Padded feet still need routine attention. Toenails can grow long and require trimming; the Australian Alpaca Association says trimming may be needed two to three times a year, with the interval varying between animals.

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7. Alpacas graze, and their fleece needs to be shorn

Alpacas are grazers. In human care, the Smithsonian says they commonly eat fresh grass and low-protein hay. Feeding and other husbandry decisions should be adapted to local conditions and made with appropriate veterinary guidance.

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They do not shed their fleece like some animals, so it must be removed. UC Cooperative Extension says camelids need annual shearing. The Australian Alpaca Association notes that an overgrown coat can contribute to matting and heat problems. The timing and handling of shearing are practical care questions for an experienced shearer and the animal’s care team.

8. An alpaca pregnancy lasts about eleven months

Alpaca gestation is long: the Smithsonian reports an average of 335 days, while UK government guidance gives approximately 342 days. Both sources support describing the pregnancy as about eleven months rather than treating one exact duration as universal. A single cria—the term for a baby alpaca—is typical, according to the Smithsonian.

Sources

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