Difference Between Alpaca and Llama

Alpaca vs. Llama

Alpacas and llama belong to the same Camelidae family. The two have been traced from the Inca period. Though alpacas and llamas belong to the same family, the two breeds are quite different in many respects.

A great difference between an alpaca and a llama is in their height and weight. The llama is larger than an alpaca. When the alpaca comes in a weight of 100 lbs. to 180 lbs., the weight of a llama comes between 250 lbs. to 450 lbs. The alpaca has a height of five feet whereas the lama has a height of 6 feet.

Alpacas can be distinguished from llamas by looking at the face. Unlike the alpaca, the llama has more hair on the face and head. An alpaca breed can be said to be having a “smushed” face. The ears are also different with the alpaca having a spear shape and the llama having a banana shape.

The outer coat of the llama is coarse and has guard hairs. The lama has short and fine undercoat. On the other hand, the Alpaca has a soft and silky coat. When the Alpaca produces about 13 lbs of fibre, the lama only produces four lbs of fibre.

It has also been seen that the Alpaca are more herd animals than the Lama, which is more independent. When looking a the breeding, the female Alpaca breeds as early as one year and the Lama breeds only in two years.

Another difference that is noticed is that the Alpacas live at elevations of 12,000 feet and the Lamas can live only at altitudes less than 8,000 feet.

Summary

1.When the alpaca comes in a weight of 100 lbs to 180 lbs, the weight of lama comes in between 250 lbs to 450 lbs.
2.The alpaca has a height of five feet whereas the lama has a height of 6 feet.
3.The outer coat of Lama is coarse and has guard hairs. The undercoat is short and fine. On the other hand, the Alpaca has a soft and silky coat.
4.Unlike the alpaca, the lama has more hair in the face and head. The ears are also different with the alpaca having a spear shape and the lama having a banana shape.
5.Alpaca are more herd animals than the Lama, which is more independent.
6.The female Alpaca breeds as early as one year and the Lama breeds only in two years.

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