Alpaca

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Alpaca
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Camelidae
Genus:	Lama
Species:	L. pacos
Binomial name
Lama pacos (Linnaeus, 1758)
Alpaca range
Synonyms
Camelus pacos Linnaeus, 1758 Vicugna pacos (Linnaeus, 1758)

The alpaca (Lama pacos) is a species of South American camelid mammal. Traditionally, alpaca were bred and raised in herds, grazing on the level meadows and escarpments of the Andes, from Ecuador and Perú to Western Bolivia and Northern Chile, typically at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 metres (11,000 to 16,000 feet) above sea level.^[1] Today, alpacas may be found on farms and ranches around the world, with thousands of animals born and raised annually, being especially popular animals in North America, Europe, and Australia.

There are two modern breeds of alpaca, separated based on their respective region of endemism and fiber (wool) type—the Suri alpaca and the Huacaya alpaca. Both breeds produce a fiber that is highly valued, with Suri alpaca fiber growing in straight "locks" and being comparable to the mohair of Turkish Angora goats; Huacaya has a "crimped", wavy texture and grows in bundles more similar to sheep's wool.^[2]

Alpacas are visually and genetically similar-to, and often confused with, the llama; however, alpacas are visibly shorter and are bred predominantly for their wool, while llamas have long been more highly prized as livestock guardians (in place of dogs), and as a pack animal (beast-of-burden), owing to their nimble mountain-climbing abilities. Nonetheless, all four South American camelids are closely related and can successfully crossbreed. Both the alpaca and the llama are believed to have been domesticated and selectively-bred from their wild counterparts—the diminutive, fine-haired vicuña and the larger, stronger guanaco, respectively—at least 5,000 to 6,000 years ago.

Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, similar to sheep's wool. These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles, and ponchos, in South America, as well as sweaters, socks, coats, and bedding in other parts of the world. The fiber comes in more than 52 natural colors as classified in Peru, 12 as classified in Australia, and 16 as classified in the United States.

Alpacas communicate through body language. The most common is spitting to show dominance^[3] when they are in distress, fearful, or feel agitated. Male alpacas are more aggressive than females, and tend to establish dominance within their herd group. In some cases, alpha males will immobilize the head and neck of a weaker or challenging male in order to show their strength and dominance.

In the textile industry, "alpaca" primarily refers to the hair of Peruvian alpacas, but more broadly it refers to a style of fabric originally made from alpaca hair, such as mohair, Icelandic sheep wool, or even high-quality wool from other breeds of sheep. In trade, distinctions are made between alpacas and the several styles of mohair and luster.^[4]

An adult alpaca generally is between 81 and 99 centimetres (32 and 39 inches) in height at the shoulders (withers). They usually weigh between 48 and 90 kilograms (106 and 198 pounds).^[5] Raised in the same conditions, the difference in weight can be small with males weighing around 22.3 kilograms (49 lb 3 oz) and females 21.3 kilograms (46 lb 15 oz).^[6]