LLAMA

Facts

A full-grown Llama can reach a height of 1.7 to 1.8 m (5 ft 7 in to 5 ft 11 in) at the top of the head, and can weigh between 130 and 272 kg (287 and 600 lb). At maturity, males can weigh 94.74 kg, while females can weigh 102.27 kg. At birth, a baby Llama (called a Cria) can weigh between 9 and 14 kg (20 and 31 lb). Llama typically live for 15 to 25 years, with some individuals surviving 30 years or more.

The ears are rather long and slightly curved inward, characteristically known as “banana” shaped. There is no dorsal hump. The feet are narrow, the toes being more separated than in the Camel, each having a distinct plantar pad. The tail is short, and fibre is long, woolly and soft.

In essential structural characteristics, as well as in general appearance and habits, all the animals of this genus very closely resemble each other, so whether they should be considered as belonging to one, two, or more species is a matter of controversy among naturalists.

The Llama and Alpaca are only known in the domestic state, and are variable in size and of many colours, being often white, brown, or piebald. Some are grey or black. The Guanaco and Vicuña are wild. The Guanaco is endangered; it has a nearly uniform light-brown colour, passing into white below. The Guanaco and Vicuña certainly differ from each other: The Vicuña is smaller, more slender in its proportions, and has a shorter head than the Vicuña.

Differential characteristics between Llama and Alpaca include the Llama larger size, longer head, and curved ears. Alpaca fibre is generally more expensive, but not always more valuable. Alpaca tend to have a more consistent colour throughout the body. The most apparent visual difference between Llama and Camel is that camels have a hump or humps and Llama do not.

Llama are not ruminants, pseudo-ruminants, or modified ruminants. They do have a complex three-compartment stomach that allows them to digest lower quality, high cellulose foods. The stomach compartments allow for fermentation of tough food stuffs, followed by regurgitation and re-chewing. Ruminants (cows, sheep, goats) have four compartments, whereas Llama have only three stomach compartments: the rumen, omasum, and abomasum.

Llama have an unusual reproductive cycle for a large animal. Female Llama are induced to ovulate. Through the act of mating, the female releases an egg and is often fertilized on the first attempt. Female Llama do not go into oestrus (“heat”). Like humans, Llama males and females mature sexually at different rates. Females reach puberty at about 12 months old; males do not become sexually mature until around three years of age. Llama mate in a Kush (lying down) position, similar to big cats and canines, which is fairly unusual in a large animal. They mate for an extended time (20–45 minutes), also unusual in a large animal.

The gestation period of a Llama is 11.5 months (350 days). Dams (female Llama) do not lick off their babies, as they have an attached tongue that does not reach outside of the mouth more than 13 millimetres (¹⁄₂ inch). Rather, they will nuzzle and hum to their newborns.

A Cria (from Spanish for “baby”) is the name for a baby Llama. Cria are typically born with all the females of the herd gathering around, in an attempt to protect against the male Llama and potential predators. Llama give birth standing. Birth is usually quick and problem-free, over in less than 30 minutes. Most births take place between 8 am and noon, during the warmer daylight hours. This may increase Cria survival by reducing fatalities due to hypothermia during cold Andean nights. This birthing pattern is speculated to be a continuation of the birthing patterns observed in the wild. Cria are up and standing, walking and attempting to suckle within the first hour after birth. Cria are partially fed with Llama milk that is lower in fat and salt and higher in phosphorus and calcium than cow or goat milk. A female Llama will only produce about 60 millilitres (2 US fluid ounces) of milk at a time when she gives milk, so the Cria must suckle frequently to receive the nutrients it requires.

Llama that are well-socialized and trained to halter and lead after weaning, are very friendly and pleasant to be around. They are extremely curious and most will approach people easily. However, Llama that are bottle-fed or over-socialized and over-handled as youth will become extremely difficult to handle when mature, when they will begin to treat humans as they treat each other, which is characterized by bouts of spitting, kicking and neck wrestling.

When correctly reared, Llama spitting at a human is a rare thing. Llama are very social herd animals, however, and do sometimes spit at each other as a way of disciplining lower-ranked Llama in the herd. A Llama social rank in a herd is never static. They can always move up or down in the social ladder by picking small fights. This is usually done between males to see which will become dominant. Their fights are visually dramatic, with spitting, ramming each other with their chests, neck wrestling and kicking, mainly to knock the other off balance. The females are usually only seen spitting as a means of controlling other herd members. One may determine how agitated the Llama is by the materials in the spit. The more irritated the Llama is, the further back into each of the three stomach compartments it will try to draw materials from for its spit.

While the social structure might always be changing, they live as a family and they do take care of each other. If one notices a strange noise or feels threatened, an alarm call – a loud, shrill sound which rhythmically rises and falls – is sent out and all others become alert. They will often hum to each other as a form of communication.

The sound of the Llama making groaning noises or going “mwa” is often a sign of fear or anger. Unhappy or agitated Llama will lay their ears back, while ears being perked upwards is a sign of happiness or curiosity.