What Are Their Characteristics And Uses?

Alpacas are not a common animal in North America

. In fact, they are quite rare. These animals qualify as a species of camelids which originated in South America. Its relatives would include the llama, vicuna and guanaco. While they do share similarities with camels, they do not have the distinctive hump that camels have. People in the states purchase alpacas usually for their fine fiber. They also produce edible meat and are gentle creatures by nature.

There are a few different uses for this type of animal. Some people keep them as show pets in their homes. They are beautiful in their own way and are often treated as moving forms of art. Some people become alpaca breeders and acquire an alpaca farm in order to breed and sell them. The industry of alpacas for sale seems to be growing as they are becoming more and more recognized as a fine source of fiber.

The physical characteristics reflect a rather compact size. Similar to a llama, they have long ears and necks and short heads. Their tails are short as well. The feet are soft and padded with only two toes. Their small feet appear to have the design for the purpose of treading lightly as they walk. An interesting fact about them is that they do not have any upper front teeth. They grasp their food with their lips and grind with their molars. The typical weight for such an animal ranges anywhere from 120 and 170 pounds.

Not all alpacas are the same color. Just like dogs and cats, their colors can vary from white, black, brown, grey, tan and fawn. They can have coats that are basic and plain or they can be decorated with markings around the body in patterns. With such a wide variety of looks, it's difficult to know what the offspring will end up looking like until they are born. Breeders have to keep this in mind so that false promises are not made.

Alpacas actually come in two different breeds. The first is called huacaya and the second, suri. Their similarities lie in their size and form; however, their fiber is distinctively different and that is how one can tell what breed they are from. Huacaya's dense fiber grows straight out which then crimps at the end and provides a soft, natural look. The suri has finer, straight fiber which makes the breed look closer to a hound than an alpaca. A cross between huacaya and suri breeds is known as chilis.

by: Art Gib

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