Llamas and alpacas: you can tell them apart with a simple trick

Created: 06/16/2022, 09:00

By: Lara-Sabrina Kiehl

Llamas and alpacas are becoming more and more common.

But how are the two breeds different?

These features will make it easy for you to find out.

Munich – The fluffy immigrants from South America are very trendy.

They adorn countless T-shirts, mugs or other things and are also increasingly being used by private owners.

But anyone who sees the animals in a paddock may have asked themselves the question: is that a llama or an alpaca?

You are definitely not alone there, although it is very easy to tell the animals apart.

Because they are actually only similar at first glance.

Llamas and alpacas: you can tell them apart with a simple trick

Llamas and alpacas look similar, but differences can be seen at second glance.

(Iconic image) © ingimage/Imago

The trick to telling an alpaca from a llama is knowing where to look.

But let's first take a first look at the similarities.

Both llamas and alpacas have two toes and belong to the group of calloused soles.

They become sexually mature at one to two years old and can live up to 25 years.

Llamas and alpacas are also called New World camelids and have a very distinctive social behavior.

That is why the llama and alpaca should always be kept in a group.

By the way, both species spit.

However, mostly in their own group to demonstrate dominance and to determine their ranking.

They rarely target humans unless provoked.

Because the animals are particularly accurate, a distance of at least five meters is recommended.

The spit often contains half-digested stomach contents and those who are hit carry an unpleasant odor with them for a long time.

Anyone who recognizes the warning sign, ears laid back, should better flee quickly.

On the other hand, singles should come together in a speed dating session with llamas and alpacas.

Llamas and alpacas: a look at their size, weight and physique reveals a lot

Now let's get to the bottom of the differences and how you can tell an alpaca from a llama.

First of all, pay attention to the size.

With a shoulder height of 130 centimetres, llamas are larger than alpacas, which are 90 centimeters at the shoulder.

With the smaller size, alpacas also weigh only half as much as llamas at around 60 kilograms.

But the two animals also differ in body structure.

While the body of alpacas appears round, that of llamas is much more angular and stalked.

Alpaca Charlie Silberprinz, who was chosen Mister Puschel-Popo in a competition, is particularly pretty.

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Llamas and alpacas: their ears also provide information about who is what

Both species have their fluffy fur in common, but here too clear differences can be seen at second glance.

The fur of alpacas is even and very fine, which is why they are often bred for wool.

The fur of the llama, on the other hand, is rough, less dense and bushy.

But the ears are also a good distinguishing feature.

Alpacas have ears that point straight up.

The llama ears are different: they are crooked and are therefore often referred to as banana ears.