Llama vs Alpaca: How to Tell Them Apart

Llama vs alpaca: the fastest way to tell them apart is size and ears. Llamas are about twice as big, with long, banana-shaped ears, while alpacas are smaller, fluffier and have short, pear-shaped ears. Both are South American camelids from the Andes. Want one you can hug? Meet our llama stuffed animals.

Key takeaways

• Llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Lama pacos) are two different domesticated species in the camel family, Camelidae (Rutgers Cooperative Extension).
• A llama stands about 40 to 45 inches at the withers and weighs 280 to 450 pounds; an alpaca stands about 3 feet and weighs about 100 to 175 pounds (Rutgers Cooperative Extension).
• Llama ears are banana-shaped and alpaca ears are pear-shaped (Rutgers 4-H Animal Science).
• Llamas were bred mainly as pack animals that carry 70 to 120 pounds; alpacas were bred mainly for fine fiber, in about 22 natural colors (Rutgers Cooperative Extension).
• Llamas descend from the wild guanaco and alpacas from the wild vicuña (Rutgers 4-H Animal Science; Smithsonian's National Zoo).

What is the main difference between a llama and an alpaca?

The main difference is size and purpose: llamas are large pack animals, while alpacas are small animals bred for their soft fleece.

According to Rutgers Cooperative Extension, llamas are about twice the size of alpacas. People in the Andes used llamas to carry loads and to guard herds, and used alpacas to produce fiber. Those different jobs shaped how each animal looks today: the llama is tall, long-legged and sturdy, while the alpaca is compact, with a dense, woolly coat.

Llama vs alpaca at a glance

This table compares the two species side by side, using figures from Rutgers University's extension and 4-H animal science programs.

How can you tell a llama from an alpaca by looking at it?

Look at the ears first, then the size and the back. Banana-shaped ears and a tall frame mean llama; short, pear-shaped ears and a small, fluffy body mean alpaca.

The Rutgers 4-H Animal Science program lists a few clear visual clues:

1. Ears: llama ears are long and banana-shaped. Alpaca ears are shorter and pear-shaped.
2. Size: a llama stands about 45 inches at the withers. An alpaca is closer to 36 inches.
3. Back line: a llama's back is straight, while an alpaca's back curves slightly upward.
4. Coat: alpaca fleece is fine and dense, which gives the animal its round, teddy-bear look. Llama hair is coarser.

A simple memory trick: if it looks like it could carry your backpack, it is probably a llama. If it looks like a walking sweater, it is probably an alpaca.

Where do llamas and alpacas come from?

Both animals are native to the Andes of South America, mainly Peru, Bolivia and Chile, and both were domesticated from wild camelids thousands of years ago.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension reports that llamas were domesticated from guanacos in the Andean highlands of Peru 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. Alpacas were domesticated from the wild vicuña. Smithsonian's National Zoo notes that Andean people selectively bred alpacas more than 6,000 years ago, and that they were fully domesticated centuries before the Incas. The zoo also explains that the camel family itself originated on the plains of North America before a common ancestor of the South American camelids migrated south.

Are llamas and alpacas related to camels?

Yes. Smithsonian's National Zoo places alpacas in the camel family, Camelidae, which also includes llamas, guanacos and vicuñas. Llamas and alpacas are the domesticated members of this South American branch of the family.

Which is friendlier, a llama or an alpaca?

Both are gentle herd animals, but alpacas are more easily startled and llamas are bolder. Neither should be kept alone.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension says both species are social and do best in groups of at least two. Smithsonian's National Zoo describes alpacas as herd animals whose only defense is flight; they hum softly to communicate and give a sharp alarm call when they sense danger. Llamas are bolder, which is one reason they have been used as guard animals: the Rutgers 4-H program notes that llamas can protect herds against coyotes and dogs.

Do llamas and alpacas spit?

Yes, both can spit, but they mostly spit at each other, not at people. Spitting is a way to complain or set boundaries inside the herd.

Smithsonian's National Zoo says alpacas spit at each other to register complaints and rarely spit at people unless they are frightened or mistreated. The Rutgers 4-H program adds that llamas are somewhat more assertive and may sometimes spit at passersby. Along with spitting, both species use foot-stomping, kicking, ear position and tail movements to show how they feel (Rutgers Cooperative Extension).

Llama wool vs alpaca wool: what's the difference?

Alpaca fiber is finer and softer than llama fiber, which is why alpacas are raised mainly for fleece.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension describes llama hair as wiry and coarse and alpaca hair as fine and silky. An average adult alpaca produces 6 to 9 pounds of fiber per year, in 22 natural colors. Llama fiber ranges from white to black, with shades of beige, brown, red and roan. The Rutgers 4-H program adds that alpaca fiber is oil-free and lightweight, and keeps about 93% of its original weight after processing.

Can llamas and alpacas breed together?

Yes. A cross between a llama and an alpaca is called a huarizo (also spelled juarizo).

CAMEO, the materials database of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, defines it as a crossbreed with a llama father and an alpaca mother. Its fleece is fine, straight and silk-like and is used much like alpaca wool for dress fabrics, coat linings and suits.

What do llamas and alpacas eat?

Both are grazers that eat mostly grass and hay, and they need less food than most animals their size.

Smithsonian's National Zoo describes alpacas as strict grazers that eat Andean grasses in the wild and fresh grass and low-protein hay in human care. Rutgers Cooperative Extension notes that camelid nutrition is similar to sheep nutrition, with pasture and hay making up most of the diet. Because they trim grass rather than destroying it, one acre can support 5 to 10 alpacas or about 4 llamas, depending on the pasture (Rutgers 4-H Animal Science).

Bring home a cuddly llama or alpaca

Can't keep a herd in your backyard? A soft llama or alpaca fits on a bed or a shelf instead. Here are three picks from Mister Plush that are in stock now:

• Giant Llama Stuffed Animal: a 29.5-inch llama in white or brown, filled with 100% PP cotton, sized for big hugs.
• Rainbow Alpaca Plush: a compact 9.8-inch alpaca in rainbow colors, easy to carry in a bag or display on a desk.
• Brown Llama Stuffed Animal: a fluffy brown llama in 11.8, 15.7 or 19.6 inches, a natural shade in the range of real llama fiber.

Love oversized cuddles? Explore our giant stuffed animals collection.

FAQ: llama vs alpaca

Is an alpaca a baby llama?

No. An alpaca is a separate species, Lama pacos, not a young llama. Adult alpacas are simply much smaller: about 3 feet tall at the withers and 100 to 175 pounds, compared with 40 to 45 inches and 280 to 450 pounds for an adult llama, according to Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Which is bigger, a llama or an alpaca?

The llama is bigger. Rutgers Cooperative Extension reports that llamas are about twice the size of alpacas, standing 40 to 45 inches at the withers and weighing 280 to 450 pounds. Alpacas stand about 36 inches and weigh about 100 to 175 pounds. Smithsonian's National Zoo calls the alpaca the smallest domesticated camelid.

Are llamas or alpacas better pets?

Neither is a typical house pet. Both are herd animals that need pasture, routine care such as vaccinations, worming, toenail trimming and shearing, and at least one companion of their own species, according to Rutgers. Llamas are often chosen for packing or guarding, while alpacas are raised for fiber and agritourism. Talk to an experienced breeder or a livestock veterinarian first.

Do alpacas spit more than llamas?

Not usually. The Rutgers 4-H program notes that alpacas mostly spit at herd-mates and rarely at humans unless provoked, while llamas are somewhat more assertive and may spit at passersby. Smithsonian's National Zoo adds that alpacas rarely spit at people unless they are frightened or mistreated.

How long do llamas and alpacas live?

Llamas live about 15 to 30 years and alpacas about 15 to 25 years, according to Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Their long lifespans mean that adopting either animal is a commitment of decades, which is worth keeping in mind before buying a pair for a farm or hobby property.

Conclusion

Llama vs alpaca comes down to a few easy clues: llamas are big, banana-eared pack animals, and alpacas are small, pear-eared fiber animals with fluffier coats. Both are gentle Andean camelids that live in herds. Ready for a llama that never spits? Shop our llama plush collection.

Sources

• Rutgers Cooperative Extension: Fact Sheet FS917
• Rutgers 4-H Animal Science: Llamas and Alpacas: Getting to Know Your Animal
• Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute: Alpaca
• CAMEO, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Juarizo