Llamas, Alpacas, Vicunas, Guanacos

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The "Camels" of South America -- The Llamas, Vicunas, Alpacas, and Guanacos are Being Seen More Frequently Elsewhere!

The llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos of South America are the New World versions of the Old World camels--they are camelids. They have simularities in how they eat, walk, and even their personalities. Some, in particular, the llamas and alpaca, are domesticated and used as "beasts of burden" in South America--used for hauling heavy loads on the treacherous narrow paths through the steep slopes of the Andes Mountains. They are also valuable for their fine fur--used for making very warm clothing for the cold Andes nights.

Since more and more of these animals are seen in North America--particularly in the mountainous areas of the United States, people may be curious about these interesting animals and would like to know more.

This Squidoo lens will provide more information and resources for your enjoyment of these critters.
Llama Behind a Fence, Maybe Waiting for Lunch?

Llama Behind a Fence, Maybe Waiting for Lunch? 

Llamas, Vicunas, Guanacos, and Alpacas...

Photogenic bunch, right?

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The Domesticated South American Camelids - Mostly Llamas and Alpacas!

Llama Enjoying the Grass in the Field - Near Longmont, Colorado (North of Denver)

Because these creatures all live in almost the same environments in South America (in and around the Andes Mountain Range), and because they all have similar features and behaviors... for many, the llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos have been considered to be just variations of the same llama genus. However, biologists have found significant enough differences between these four camelids to consider them 4 distinct species:


  • the llama, Lama glama (Linnaeus)

  • the alpaca, Vicugna pacos (Linnaeus)

  • the guanaco (from the Quechua "huanaco"), Lama guanicoe (Müller)

  • the vicuña, Vicugna vicugna (Molina)

The llamas and alpacas are now only domesticated animals--the guanacos and the vicuñas are only found in the wild (although sometimes they are captured for shearing their fur, which is a very valuable for weaving extremely warm cloth). The guanacos and vicuñas are protected where they occur by local laws.


A weird difference is that the llamas do not have eyelashes; whereas the alpacas do have eyelashes. Llamas also are larger and have a longer head than the alpacas. Llamas are therefore used as pack animals in mountainous country, while the smaller alpacas are used only for their fur for weaving cloth.

Read Up on These Critters... Interesting Info For Your Enjoyment!

Llamas and Alpacas: Small-scale Herding for Pleasure and Profit (Hobby Farms) by Sue Weaver

Llamas and Alpacas: Small-scale Herding for Pleasure and Profit (Hobby Farms) by Sue Weaver

HF Llamas and Alpacas is an affordable yet qualita more...0 points

The Littlest Llama by Jane Buxton

The Littlest Llama by Jane Buxton

The littlest llama has a problem-one that every child more...0 points

Llamas and Alpacas as a Metaphor for Life by Marty McGee Bennett

Llamas and Alpacas as a Metaphor for Life by Marty McGee Bennett

For anyone who is fascinated by llamas and alpacas more...0 points

Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids: Llama, Alpaca, Vicuna, Guanaco by Murray E. Fowler

Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids: Llama, Alpaca, Vicuna, Guanaco by Murray E. Fowler

Univ. of California, Davis. Comprehensive veterina more...0 points

The Camelid Companion: Handling and Training Your Alpacas & Llamas by Marty McGee Bennett

The Camelid Companion: Handling and Training Your Alpacas & Llamas by Marty McGee Bennett

The definitive guide to handling, training, and managing more...0 points

Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas: Care/Showing/Breeding/Packing/Profiting by Gale Birutta

Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas: Care/Showing/Breeding/Packing/Profiting by Gale Birutta

Everything readers need to know about behavior, fa more...0 points

Llama Links! (And Links for the Other New World Camelids!)

Rocky Mountain Llama and Alpaca Association (RMLA)
The Rocky Mountain Llama and Alpaca Association (RMLA) is dedicated to educating the membership and public about llamas and alpacas. Based in Monument, Colorado.
The Michigan Llama Association
The Michigan Llama Association provides llama and alpaca information with their various programs for Michigan and the surrounding states.

Llama Decoration!

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Field of llamas, north of Denver, Colorado

Field of llamas, north of Denver, Colorado 

Llamas by the Bay ... eBay, That Is!

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Home on the range... where the deer and the llamas roam!

Home on the range... where the deer and the llamas roam! 

If You Want to See Llamas, Alpacas, Guanacos, and Vicunas, Up Close and Personal...

You Can Schedule Your Travel Here!

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Llamas You Can Hug! (Without Smelling Like a Barnyard!)

Aurora World Aurora Plush 12

Aurora World Aurora Plush 12" Llama Flopsie

This is a 12" plush of a Llama. Aurora's 12' more...0 points

Plush Paddy O'llama 11

Plush Paddy O'llama 11"

11" tall (28 cm)Douglas Toys makes many beaut more...0 points

Plush Miguel Llama 14

Plush Miguel Llama 14"

Surface Washable0 points

Plush Choco Llama 11

Plush Choco Llama 11"

Douglas Toys makes beautiful, soft, cuddly Wildlif more...0 points

Safari: Alpaca

Safari: Alpaca

Hand-painted, phthalate free and safety tested. Mo more...0 points

Llamas Resting in Field, Longmont, Colorado (North of Denver)

Llamas Resting in Field, Longmont, Colorado (North of Denver) 

Zazzling Llamas!

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Llamas (and Alpacas, Guanacos, and Vucunas) in Action!

The Llamero and the Boy with the White Llama, The (Home Use Version)

The Llamero and the Boy with the White Llama, The (Home Use Version)

Eraclio is leaving tomorrow for three months.  In more...0 points

Saludos Amigos (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Saludos Amigos (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Direct from the vault, Disney's 6th full-length an more...0 points

Llama Training with Bobra Goldsmith: What Every Llama Should Know

Llama Training with Bobra Goldsmith: What Every Llama Should Know

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R more...0 points

NUESTRO CINE - 2 PACK (El Correo del Norte / El Sol en Llamas)

NUESTRO CINE - 2 PACK (El Correo del Norte / El Sol en Llamas)

Studio: Laguna Productions Inc Release Date: 08/29 more...0 points

Is Your Mama a Llama?... and More Stories About Growing Up (Scholastic Video Collection)

Is Your Mama a Llama?... and More Stories About Growing Up (Scholastic Video Collection)

IS YOUR MAMA A LLAMA?: (By Deborah Guarino, illustrated more...0 points

The Emperor's New Groove - The Ultimate Groove (2-Disc Collector's Edition)

The Emperor's New Groove - The Ultimate Groove (2-Disc Collector's Edition)

Originally developed as an epic called Kingdom of the more...0 points

The Emperor's New Groove - The New Groove Edition

The Emperor's New Groove - The New Groove Edition

If you liked ALADDIN, you'll love Disney's THE EMP more...0 points

Drop a Note Before You Guanaco Out of Here!

  • naturegirl7 Mar 4, 2011 @ 8:37 am | delete
    Love those Llamas. They (and their other furry friends) have been featured on Angel of Farmyard Animals blessings.
  • WildFacesGallery Mar 18, 2010 @ 8:55 pm | delete
    Nicely done. On our farm in SD we had a guanco. Not ours but lived on the same place. He was an odd creature. :) 5*
  • Light-in-me Mar 18, 2010 @ 6:08 pm | delete
    Very nice you did a good job. I love the Llamas you can hug without smelling like a barnyard section, too cute.
  • Sylvestermouse Mar 18, 2010 @ 8:08 am | delete
    They are so cute and sassy! Great job on this lens! Angel Blessed and added to my Squid Angel Mouse Tracks lens.

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How to Raise a Llama (or Alpaca!)....  

Caring for Llamas and Alpacas: A Health & Management Guide

Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

This book gives you the information you need to start your own llama or alpaca farm... or at least lets you know what it all takes to keep your llamas and alpacas happy!

Everything Llama!  

Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas: Care/Showing/Breeding/Packing/Profiting

Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

You want to raise llamas? This book will give you all the information you need, starting from helping them to give birth to raising them to using their wool for yarn. It's amazing what you'll learn from this book!

The Care and Feeding of Llamas? 

Llamas: An Introduction to Care, Training and Handling

Amazon Price: $35.53 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

This is another book that will give you additional reference sources for caring and feeding your herd of llamas! Lots of good stuff here!