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© Sedgwick County Zoo, credit: Unknown

Alpaca

Lama glama pacos

Physical Characteristics

  • This domestic form of the guanaco has coloring ranging from brown to black or white, occurring in solids or spots. The long, dense wool is of the finest quality. The hairs can grow up to 1.5 feet long.
  • Size of average adult
    • height: 3 - 4 feet
    • length: 4 - 7 feet
    • weight: 121 - 143 pounds
  • Approximate life span is 15 - 20 years.

Diet

  • Wild: many types of grass

Behavior

  • When running, the front and hind legs move in unison on each side of the body
  • Will spit the contents of the stomach at annoying objects
  • Reproduction
    • sexual maturity: 2 years
    • breeding season: August and September
    • gestation: 342 - 368 days
    • a single young is born every other year, the young can run immediately after birth, weaning takes place between 6 - 12 weeks after birth

Environmental/Global

  • Habitat: kept in grasslands and scrublands between 12,800 - 15,000 feet
  • Distribution: the Andes mountains in Peru
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