What Is the Difference Between a Llama & an Alpaca?

Llamas and alpacas are members of the camel family but lack their old-world cousins' distinctive humps. Being native to the Americas, both species are known as new-world animals. The two species have several common traits but a number of factors separate them.

  1. Description

    • Both animals' body shapes are similar with long legs, bodies and necks. The llama is the largest member of new-world camelids and the alpaca is the smallest. Both species have typical camelid features like rounded muzzles, prominent teeth and cleft upper lips. Male alpacas' incisor teeth -- which grow longer than llamas' do -- aid with defense. Llamas just have one upper incisor. Further, llama coats are long and shaggy, while some alpaca breeds have tightly curled hair.

    Habitat and Range

    • Both species are almost exclusively domesticated and not found in the wild. The llama has the largest native range throughout the Andes Mountains. The alpaca is native to the central and southern Andes. Both species can be found outside South America as pets and sources for wool production. Additionally, both species' blood holds onto oxygen -- an adaptation for living at high altitudes. Nevertheless, the llama is never found above 13,120 feet, while the alpaca can survive altitudes of up to 15,744 feet.

    Diet and Predators

    • The llama has a varied diet, feeding on roots, tubers, leaves, grains, seeds, plant sap and lichens. The alpaca feeds mainly on grasses, tree bark, leaves and stems. The llama, being larger, has fewer predators and mainly contends with pumas, coyotes and ocelots. The alpaca is at risk from these animals and Andean condors, domestic dogs, Andean foxes and the small predatory cat the colocolo. In some herds, llamas are placed with alpacas as protectors.

    Life Cycle

    • The two species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Llamas and alpacas live in small family groups dominated by an adult male that controls several females. Llamas, on average, have slightly longer pregnancies -- sometimes up to a year -- while alpacas' pregnancies are around 11 months. A single offspring is generally born to both species. Llama babies wean from their mothers' milk earlier, taking four months on average, contrasted with seven months for alpacas. Female alpacas reach sexual maturity sooner, at 15 months, contrasted with more than two years for llamas. Additionally, alpacas outlive llamas, averaging 20 years contrasted with the llama's 16.