The alpaca is smaller than the llama, has short pointed ears and is raised mainly for its fiber; the llama is bigger, has long curved ears and has been used for centuries to carry loads. An adult alpaca weighs about 60 to 80 kg and a llama between 120 and 200 kg. This article is written by Alpaca, a store that sells ponchos, shawls and blankets, and it is meant to help you recognize each animal and understand what fiber each one gives.
The differences at a glance
The data in this table comes from the MSD Veterinary Manual (the professional edition of the Merck Manual).
| Alpaca | Llama | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Vicugna pacos | Lama glama |
| Adult weight | 60–80 kg | 120–200 kg |
| Height at the withers (the shoulder) | 76–97 cm | 102–127 cm |
| Ears | Shorter, spear-shaped | Longer, banana-shaped |
| Tail | Lower | Higher |
| Back | Slightly arched | Straight line |
| Breeds | Two: huacaya and suri | No defined breeds |
The easiest way to recognize them is from a distance: if it is big with long ears, it is probably a llama. If it is compact and fluffy, with small ears, it is an alpaca.
What each one is raised for
According to Wikipedia, the alpaca is shorter and is raised mainly for its fiber. The llama, on the other hand, has been used as a pack and guard animal. The same encyclopedia says, in its article on the llama, that it can carry between 25% and 30% of its weight for 8 to 13 kilometers, and that it has been used in the Andes for carrying loads and for meat since before the arrival of the Spanish.
Where they come from
Both are South American camelids. According to Wikipedia, they are believed to have been domesticated at least 5,000 or 6,000 years ago. A DNA study indicates that the alpaca descends from the vicuña and not from the guanaco. Alpacas and llamas can interbreed.
Their natural habitat is the Andes of Ecuador, Peru, western Bolivia and northern Chile, between 3,500 and 5,000 meters. Peru has more than half of the world's alpacas, according to the same source.
The fiber: what each one gives
Alpaca
There are two fleece types. The huacaya (approx. 90% of alpacas) has crimped fiber, in fluffy locks. The suri (approx. 10%) has straight fiber, in long curls that hang down. More than 52 natural colors have been classified in Peru, according to Wikipedia.
The specialist magazine Spin-Off says that most alpaca fiber measures between 20 and 35 microns (a micron is a thousandth of a millimeter; the lower the number, the finer). For comparison: the merino sheep is around 20 to 22 microns and the vicuña, 12 to 14.
Llama
According to Spin-Off, the llama has two types of hair: an undercoat (the soft layer underneath) of 20 to 40 microns and a coarser guard hair on top. In double-coated llamas, that coarse hair is removed before spinning. In some llamas the fleece has more guard hair than in others; the same source explains that the quality of llama fleece varies more than that of alpaca, because historically they were bred for other characteristics.
How do I know if a garment is alpaca or llama?
With a finished garment, you can hardly tell by looking. Spin-Off points out that in South America llama and alpaca fiber can be sold as the same commercial product: the finer is sold as alpaca and the coarser as llama. And since the species interbreed, a fiber sold as alpaca can come from a llama or from a blend.
What to do? Read the label, look at the composition and ask the seller. If there is a figure, it should be clear: that is how we do it. For example, our garments say 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic. They are not unblended alpaca; three ponchos are 80% cotton and 20% polyester. More in pure alpaca vs acrylic blend.
Alpaca and vicuña, another common mix-up
The vicuña is the wild species from which, according to the DNA study cited above, the alpaca probably descends. Its fiber is much finer (12 to 14 microns, according to Spin-Off).
And if you are looking for clothing in Ecuador
We make ponchos, shawls and blankets with artisan families in Peguche, in Imbabura. You can get to know the place in Peguche, the weaving village. If your question is about fibers, the comparison with sheep is in alpaca fiber vs sheep wool.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, the alpaca or the llama?
The llama. It weighs between 120 and 200 kg and stands between 102 and 127 cm at the withers; the alpaca weighs between 60 and 80 kg and stands between 76 and 97 cm (MSD Veterinary Manual).
Do the alpaca and the llama look alike?
A lot: they are South American camelids, they live in the Andes and they can interbreed.
Which camelid has the finest fiber?
The vicuña (12 to 14 microns, according to Spin-Off). Most alpaca fiber is between 20 and 35 microns; llama undercoat, between 20 and 40.
How long does an alpaca live?
Between 15 and 20 years on average; the longest-lived on record reached 28, according to Wikipedia.
What are the huacaya and the suri?
The two types of alpaca according to their fleece: the huacaya, with crimped, fluffy fiber, is the most common; the suri has straight fiber, in long curls.