Mammals
Alpaca
Vicugna pacosConservation statusDomestic animal
DietGrass of the páramo, the high grassland of the Andes
Lifespan15-20 years
Size and weight55-85 kg
About half the size of a llama. It has a short, furry face, short straight ears and thick wool over the whole body.
Spear-shaped ears
What makes it specialThe fiber is hollow inside. It keeps in heat better than sheep's wool of the same weight.
Surprising factIt comes in 22 natural colors, from white to black, so people can make colorful clothes without dyeing them.
PopulationAbout 4 million worldwide, about 80 percent of them in southern Peru. In Ecuador, mostly in Indigenous communities.
Mountain villages and Otavalo market
Good to know: At Otavalo market, much of what is sold as "alpaca" is a blend. Real fiber feels smooth and silky, with no itch.
LlamaAlpacaEarsLong and curved, like a bananaShort and straight, like a spearSize130-200 kg55-85 kgFaceLong and bareShort and covered in furCoatRough, used for ropes and rugsSoft and even, used for clothesCharacterIndependent, carries loadsShy, stays with the herd
The quick way to tell them apart: look at the ears.