Guanaco vs Llama: What's the Difference?
The llama is the domesticated descendant of the guanaco; the guanaco’s colour varies very little.
Quick answers
They differ on 3 of the 8 quick answers: domesticated, kept as a pet, do people eat it.
| Question | Guanaco | Llama |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | No, herbivore | No, herbivore |
| Dangerous? | No | No |
| Domesticated? differs | No | Yes |
| Awake when? | Daytime | Daytime |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? differs | No | Sometimes |
| Do people eat it? differs | In places | Yes |
At a glance
| Question | Guanaco | Llama |
|---|---|---|
| Found in | South America | South America |
| Habitat differs | Grassland, Scrub, Mountains, Desert | Mountains, Grassland, Farmland |
| Size | Large | Large |
| Length differs | 2.1–2.2 m (body) | 0.92–1.6 m |
| Height differs | 1–1.3 m at the shoulder | – |
| Weight differs | 90–140 kg | 130–155 kg |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Wool | Wool |
| Lives | In herds | In herds |
| Lives for differs | 20–25 years | 15–25 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Guanaco
A wild camelid of South America and the ancestor of the domestic llama. It is one of the largest land mammals native to South America today, with a light brown to cinnamon coat, a white belly and a grey face. It is a fast runner and an excellent swimmer.
Everything on the guanaco page
Llama
A domesticated South American camelid, used by Andean cultures for meat and as a pack animal since before Columbus. Llamas are social herd animals and are also used as livestock guardians.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Commonly confused animals.