Alpacas and llamas are both members of the camel family, and it can be difficult for people who aren’t familiar with them to tell them apart.
However, once you are aware of a few key features, you will be able to tell them apart easily.
Here’s how to tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama.
Quick Reference: Difference Between Alpacas vs Llamas
For quick reference, here’s a summary of the key differences between the two animals:
| Alpacas | Llamas | |
| Size | About 5 feet tall and 125-200 pounds | About 6 feet tall and 300-450 pounds |
| Face | Fluffy fur on face, with a compact, short nose | Less hair on the face, with a long face and nose |
| Ears | Short, spear-shaped, upright ears | Longer, rabbit-shaped, upright ears |
| Body | Curved back with a tail that slopes down | Flatback extends to the tail |
| Fur | Fine, soft, single-coated fur | Double-coated fur with long, coarse outer hair |
| Disposition | Curious and shy | Confident and independent |
What is an Alpaca
An alpaca is an animal that resembles a llama. It is a part of the camel family that is native to the Andes mountain of South America as well as on different countries such as Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.
The average alpaca is between 125-200 pounds when fully grown.
Alpaca Wool
Alpaca wool is used mainly for clothing such as sweaters. Alpaca fiber is eco-friendly and hypo-allergenic which is suitable for most clothing preference.
Alpaca fiber is also a well-known for its insulation and thermal properties. It’s very light as well as good for keeping you warm. It’s natural, biodegradable, shrink-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, and odor-resistant.
What is a Llama
A llama is also a native to the Andes mountain of South America and a part of the camel family. However, unlike an alpaca, the llama doesn’t have a hump on its back.
This lovely creature has been long used as a pack animal since the beginning of its domestication. An adult llama can be used to saddle loads of about 50 to 80 pounds depending on the animal size.
The llama was an ideal carrier since it could travel around 20 miles per day. It is a very handy animal for loading and transferring goods to different parts of the mountain, including rough terrains.
A llama is a good travel companion to carry loads of goods, however, an overloaded llama would simply refuse to move if it feels like it’s carrying more of the usual weight. It could also give you a nasty spit, kick or hiss if you don’t plan on removing some burden.
Llama Wool
Llama wool is lightweight, and yet very warm. When compared to sheep’s wool, llama wool is often preferable due to superior softness of the yarn.
Sheep wool can also contain substances that cause an allergic reaction in some people.
While both Alpacas and Llamas produce wool, any llama breeder will recommend an Alpaca before a a Llama if wool production is what you are after.
Differences Between Alpacas vs Llamas
Both llamas and alpacas are members of the camel family and have been domesticated by people for thousands of years.
It is precisely that domestication that has led to the key differences between the two species because llamas were bred to be a domesticated animal so they could be used as pack animals, and alpacas were bred and raised for fiber.
Size
Llamas are bigger than alpacas, standing about 6 feet tall at the ears, and weighing up to 450 pounds.
Alpacas are shorter, averaging 5 feet tall at the ears, and weighing up to 200 pounds
Face
Llamas have faces that resemble camel faces, with long downward curving noses, and less hair on their faces.
Alpacas have short, forward-facing noses, with more hair on their faces, and more closely resemble sheep.
Ears
Both animals have upright ears, but llamas ears are longer, more rabbit-like. Alpacas have shorter, triangular ears.
Body shape
Llamas have long, flatbacks with tails right at the end of their spines. Alpacas have curved backs with tails that tuck down
Fur
Llamas have a double coat, with a soft undercoat and long, coarse outer hair.
Alpacas are single-coated, with soft, curly hair.
Personality
Both animals are herd animals that need to be around others of their kind in order to be healthy.
Llamas are confident and independent. They have become popular guard animals, often kept with sheep and goats, because they will intimidate and fight predators who threaten their herd.
Llamas are constantly competing among each other for status within their herd, so they don’t make great pets.
When llamas are raised with too much handling and familiarity with people, they tend to “compete” with people for herd status, becoming pushy and difficult at adolescence and adulthood (but not actually threatening or dangerous).
Alpacas are intelligent and curious, but also shy and easily intimidated.
They are easily trained to walk on a halter and do simple tricks and make great pets.
Because alpacas tend to go to the bathroom in the same place, they are also easily trained to use a litter box or go outside.
Alpaca fur contains no lanolin, the oil in sheep wool that often triggers sensitivities, so it is hypoallergenic, and is very high-quality wool.
Related Content: How to train a rabbit to walk on a leash? One great way to let them stretch their legs!
ALPACA VS LLAMA FAQ
Do llamas or alpacas spit?
Both llamas and alpacas spit as a defense mechanism when they are threatened.
Can alpacas breed with llamas?
Yes, alpacas and llamas can breed with each other. In fact, a cross between a male llama and a female alpaca is called a huarizo.
As you might expect, huarizos are between llamas and alpacas in size, and have longer, softer hair than a llama, but not as soft as an alpaca.
Can llama spit hurt you?
Llama spit is extremely unpleasant, but not physically painful. When llamas and alpacas “spit” at danger, they aren’t actually spitting saliva; they are spitting their stomach contents at the threat.
Because these animals are ruminants, their stomachs tend to have a lot of partially digested and fermented food, which smells awful and has a lingering smell that is hard to get rid of.
Studies suggest that the more upset a llama is, the deeper into their stomachs the spit comes from, so it smells even worse, and llamas can spit up to about 15 feet. But, while you certainly don’t want to get spit on, it can’t actually harm you.
Are alpacas good pets?
When alpacas are treated well and raised with lots of human contacts, they are excellent pets.
They are naturally curious and intelligent and can be trained to walk with a halter and even be trained to go to the bathroom in a specific place, like a cat.
Alpacas are fairly easy to care for, get along well with other animals, and have fur that is naturally hypoallergenic, so they are becoming very popular pets.
Conclusion
Alpaca is grown for its fibers and llama is for loading goods. Both can be a great pet as well if provided with their needs.
Assessing between Alpaca vs Llama, both animals are living up to their standards serving their purpose.
You can’t really determine which is the best but you can certainly choose between the two which would be the perfect fit for you and your needs.
