What’s the Difference Between a Llama and an Alpaca?

Roberta Goli BSc (Zoology), Roberta Goli

Posted by
Roberta Goli
Oct 13, 2009

Recently a friend of mine posed the question ‘What’s the difference between a Llama and an Alpaca?’. I realized that this was something that a lot of people don’t know. While llamas and alpacas have many similarities, most people are unaware of their differences.

Llamas and alpacas are closely related and thought to share a common ancestor, along with the camels of Africa and Asia.

Current taxonomy of the Alpaca

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Genes: Vicugna
Species: V. pacos

Current taxonomy of the Llama

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Species: V. pacos
Species: L. glana

Their main differences are in their use and their appearance. The llama is almost twice the size of the alpaca and has banana (curved) shaped ears. Llamas are strong animals often used as pack animals as well as for fleece and have been used for meat. They have a straight back line and a high tail set. Llamas usually have two types of hair on their coat, a soft undercoat as well as longer, courser hair called guard hairs.

Alpacas, being around half the size of llamas have short pointed ears and a rounded sloping rear end. Bred for its fleece the alpaca coat is soft and warm and contains no course guard hairs. Both animals spit, however, it is alleged that this behaviour has been mostly bred out of the llama. Because the llama has been used for meat, any spitting llama was sure to be eaten. Neither animal usually spit at humans and both have nice temperaments

For more information about the llama, read Llama are Used for Fleece and as Pack Animals.

For more information about alpacas, read Running and Breeding Alpacas for Fleece and Diseases Known to Affect Alpacas.