In South America, there are native species of camelids: llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. Often, many travelers and visitors confuse them at first sight. These four aforementioned species share certain similarities, so it is normal not to be able to distinguish one species from another.
If you are about to embark on a journey to the Andes, it is expected that you will appreciate the beauty of these unique beings. Also known as protectors of the Apus, these camelids possess peculiar characteristics that make them unique.
Llama
Appearance: Llamas are the largest camelids, with a robust body and a long neck. The color of their thick coat of hair can vary, including shades of brown, white, black, and gray.
Size: Llamas are the largest camelids, with *a height at the withers of approximately 1.7 to 1.8 meters and a weight ranging from 113 to 200 kilograms.
Use: In addition to being used as pack animals, llama wool is valued for its softness and durability. Their wool is used to make textiles and warm clothing.
Fiber: Llama fiber is thicker and less soft than that of the alpaca, but it is still valuable for its durability and strength.
Behavior: Llamas are domesticated animals and are mainly used as pack animals in mountainous regions of South America. They are known to be docile and can be trained to carry loads during long hikes.
*A height at the withers. It refers to the measurement of an animal’s height from the ground to the highest part of its back, just at the base of the neck where the shoulders are located. This measurement is commonly used to describe the stature of horses, dogs, and other four-legged animals. In the case of camelids, such as llamas or camels, the height at the withers is an important measurement to describe their physical size.
Alpaca
Appearance: Alpacas are smaller than llamas, with a more compact body and a smaller head. Their dense and soft fur can be of different colors, including white, black, brown, and shades of gray.
Size: Alpacas are smaller than llamas, with a height at the withers of approximately 0.8 to 1.0 meters and a weight ranging from 55 to 65 kilograms.
Use: Alpaca wool is highly valued for its softness, warmth, and resistance. It is used to make a variety of high-quality textile products, such as sweaters, scarves, blankets, and luxury clothing.
Fiber: Alpaca fiber is very soft, warm, and lightweight. The fiber has a variety of natural colors similar to autumnal or woody tones.
Behavior: Alpacas are domesticated animals raised mainly for their high-quality wool. They are more docile than llamas and can be raised in larger herds.
Vicuña
Appearance: Vicuñas are the smallest and most elegant camelids, with a slender body and long legs. They have long and soft fur that is golden brown on the back and white on the belly and face.
Size: Vicuñas are smaller than alpacas, with a height at the withers of approximately 0.7 to 0.9 meters and a weight ranging from 35 to 65 kilograms.
Use: Vicuña wool is considered one of the finest and most expensive fibers in the world. Due to regulation obtained from laws and conservation efforts, the collection of vicuña wool is carried out sustainably and controlled.
Fiber: Vicuña fiber is the finest in the world and is considered extremely luxurious and expensive.
Behavior: Vicuñas are wild animals that generally inhabit high-altitude areas in the Andes. They are very agile and fast, allowing them to quickly escape from predators.
Guanaco
Appearance: Guanacos are intermediate in size between llamas and vicuñas, with a slender body and long legs. They also have short and rough fur that is light brown on the back and white on the belly.
Size: Guanacos are similar in size to vicuñas, with a height at the withers of approximately 1.0 to 1.2 meters and a weight ranging from 90 to 140 kilograms.
Use: Historically, they were hunted for their meat and skin. Today, they are protected by laws. Their fiber is used in rustic textiles.
Fiber: Guanaco fiber is rougher than that of the alpaca and vicuña, but it is still valued for its strength and durability.
Behavior: Guanacos are wild animals that live in a variety of habitats in South America, including mountains, plains, and deserts. They are shy and generally avoid contact with humans.
In conclusion, each of these species of camelids has unique characteristics in terms of size, use, and fiber quality. These unique traits are what make them important both economically and culturally in the Andean region of South America.
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