Alpaca

Alpaca (scientific name: Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated livestock animal belonging to the camel family (Camelidae), but without a hump. It inhabits the high plateaus of the Andes mountain range in South America, particularly in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. It is raised primarily for its fiber, which is used for textiles and clothing.

Alpacas were domesticated thousands of years ago. There is no wild species called alpaca; wild relatives of the family are the vicuña and the guanaco. Alpacas are smaller than llamas and typically weigh between 50 and 80 kilograms.

Physical characteristics

Alpacas have long, upright ears and thick fleece that covers the entire body including the face. Color varies: white, brown, black, and spotted. The stomach has three chambers (ruminant-like), which allows them to digest tough grasses found on high plateaus where air is thin.

Two fiber types

There are two domesticated types: Huacaya, with soft, fluffy fleece, and Suri, with long, silky fiber resembling combed thread. Alpaca fiber is lightweight, warm, and contains little lanolin—which is why many people with sensitive skin can use it.

Herding and economy

Alpacas are raised in herds; they are social animals and cannot thrive alone. Fiber is sheared annually, typically in summer. For rural economies in the Andes, alpaca fiber is an important source of income. Since the late twentieth century, alpacas have been raised in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Europe.