A domesticated South American camelid bred for its highly valued fibre, descended from the wild vicuña at least 5,000–6,000 years ago. It is smaller than its relative the llama.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?No, herbivore
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?Yes
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?Sometimes
Do people eat it?Yes
Mainly bred for wool, but in the Andes alpacas were also used for their meat.
At a glance
Found inSouth America
HabitatMountains, Grassland, Farmland
ColoursWhite, Brown, Black, Cream
SizeMedium
Legs4
Covered inWool
Lives inherds
Lives for15–20 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Domestic, from the Andes of South America.
Did you know
Bred from the wild vicuña at least 5,000 years ago for its fine fibre.
There are two breeds, the Suri and the Huacaya, told apart by the type of fibre they grow.
Often confused with
- Llama
A llama is bigger than an alpaca, with a longer head and curved ears. Alpacas are smaller and bred for their finer fibre.
Compare side by side - Vicuna
The vicuña is the alpaca’s wild ancestor: smaller and fine-haired.
Compare side by side
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