Alpaca
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Alpaca
Alpaca (31562329701).jpg
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Vicugna
Species: V. pacos
Binomial name
Vicugna pacos
(Linnaeus, 1758)
World map showing highlighted range covering portions of Peru and Bolivia
Alpaca range
Synonyms
Camelus pacos Linnaeus, 1758
Lama pacos (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a species of South American camelid, similar to,
and often confused with the llama. However, alpacas are often noticeably smaller
than llamas. The two animals are closely related, and can successfully
cross-breed. Alpacas and llamas are also closely related to the Vicuña, which is
believed to be the alpaca's wild ancestor, and to the Guanaco. There are two
breeds of Alpaca: the Suri alpaca (es) and the Huacaya alpaca.
Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of
Southern Peru, Western Bolivia, Ecuador, and Northern Chile at an altitude of
3,500 m (11,500 ft) to 5,000 m (16,000 ft) above sea level, throughout the year.
alpaca 1 alpaca Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas, and unlike llamas,
they were not bred to be working animals, but were bred specifically for their
fiber. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, similar to wool.
These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of
textiles and ponchos in South America, and sweaters, socks, coats and bedding in
other parts of the world. The fiber comes in more than 52 natural colors as
classified in Peru, 12 as classified in Australia, and 16 as classified in the
United States.
Alpacas communicate through body language. The most common is spitting when they
are in distress, fearful, or mean to show dominance. alpaca 2 alpaca Male
alpacas are more aggressive than females, and tend to establish dominance of
their herd group. In some cases, alpha males will immobilize the head and neck
of a weaker or challenging male in order to show their strength and dominance.
In Textile industry, "alpaca" primarily refers to the hair of Peruvian Alpacas,
but more broadly it refers to a style of fabric originally made from alpaca
hair, such as mohair, Icelandic sheep wool, or even high-quality wool. In trade,
distinctions are made between alpacas and the several styles of mohair and
luster. alpaca 3 alpaca
An adult alpaca generally is between 81–99 centimetres (32–39 in) in height at
the shoulders (withers). They usually weigh between 48–84 kilograms (106–185
lb).
Contents
1 Background
1.1 Breeds
2 Behavior
2.1 Spitting
2.2 Hygiene
2.3 Sounds
2.4 Reproduction
3 Habitat and lifestyle
4 Population
5 Diet
5.1 Digestion
5.2 Poisonous plants
6 History of the scientific name
7 Fiber
8 Prices
9 Livestock
10 Cultural presence
11 See also
12 References
13 External links
Background
Guanacos (wild parent species of llamas) near Torres del Paine, Chile
Alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years. Moche people of Northern
Peru often used alpaca images in their art. alpaca 4 alpaca There are no known
docile wild alpacas, and its closest living relative, the vicuña (also native to
South America),is believed to be the wild ancestor of the alpaca.
The family of Camelidaes first appeared in Americas 40–45 million years ago
during the Eocene period from the common ancestor, Protylopus. The origin and
evolution of the South American camelids. New Zealand Alpaca Associatiyears
after the inhabitants divided into Camelini and Lamini tribes, taking different
migratory patterns to Asia and South America respectively. Although the camelids
became extinct in North America around 3 million years ago, in the South
flourished with the tribes we see today. alpaca 5 alpaca It wasn't until 2–5
million years ago, during the Pliocene that the genus Hemiauchenia of the tribe
Lamini split into Palaeolama and Lama, the latter would then split again into
Lama and Vicugna upon migrating down to South America.
Remains of Vicuña and Guanaco have been found throughout Peru for around 12,000
years. Their domesticated counterparts, the llama and alpacas have been found
mummified in the Moquegua valley in the south of Peru dating back 900 to 1000
years. Mummies found in this region shows two breeds of alpacas. More precise
analysis of bone and teeth of these mummies has demonstrated that alpacas were
domesticated from the Vicugna vicugna. Other research, considering the
behavioral and morphological characteristics of alpacas and their wild
counterparts, seems to indicate that alpacas could find their origins in Lama
guanicoe as well as Vicugna vicugna, or even a hybrid of both Mitochondrial DNA
shows a different picture for the origins of the Alpaca. mtDNA research shows
that Alpacas are descendants of the Vicugna vicugna, not of the Lama guanicoe.
This has led to attempts to reclassify Alpaca to Vicugna pacos.
Breeds
Alpacas come in two breeds Suri and Huacaya, depending on its fiber rather than
conventional or European classifications
Huacaya Alpacas are the most common found, about 90% of the population. alpaca 6
alpaca The Huacaya alpaca is thought to be originated in post-colonial Peru.
This is due to their thicker fleece which makes them more suited to survive in
the higher altitudes of the Andes after being pushed into the highlands of Peru
when conquistadors arrived. alpaca 7 alpaca alpaca better source needed alpaca
Suri alpacas represent a smaller portion of the total Alpaca population, around
10%. alpaca 6 alpaca They are thought to have been more prevalent in
pre-Columbian Peru since they could be kept at a lower altitude where a thicker
fleece was not needed for extenuating weather conditions. alpaca 7 alpaca alpaca
better source needed alpaca
Behavior
Closeup of an alpaca's face
Alpacas are social herd animals that live in family groups, consisting of a
territorial alpha male, females, and their young ones. Alpacas warn the herd
about intruders by making sharp, noisy inhalations that sound like a
high-pitched bray. The herd may attack smaller predators with their front feet,
and can spit and kick. Their aggression towards members of the canid family
(coyotes, foxes, dogs etc.) is exploited when alpacas are used as guard llamas
for guarding sheep. alpaca 8 alpaca
Alpacas can sometimes be aggressive, but they can also be very gentle,
intelligent, and extremely observant. For the most part, alpacas are very quiet,
but male alpacas are more energetic when they get involved in fighting with
other alpacas. alpaca 9 alpaca When they prey, they are cautious but also
nervous when they feel any type of threat. They can feel threatened when a
person or another alpaca comes up from behind them. alpaca 10 alpaca alpaca
better source needed alpaca
Alpacas set their own boundaries of "personal space" within their families and
groups. alpaca 11 alpaca They make a hierarchy in some sense, and each alpaca is
aware of the dominant animals in each group. alpaca 9 alpaca Body language is
the key to their communication. It helps to maintain their order. One example of
their body communication includes a pose named broadside, where their ears are
pulled back and they stand sideways. This pose is used when male alpacas are
defending their territory. alpaca 2 alpaca
When they are young, they tend to follow larger objects and to sit near or under
them. An example of this is a baby alpaca with its mother. This can also apply
when an alpaca passes by an older alpaca. alpaca 11 alpaca
Spitting
Not all alpacas spit, but all are capable of doing so. "Spit" is somewhat
euphemistic; occasionally the projectile contains only air and a little saliva,
although alpacas commonly bring up acidic stomach contents (generally a green,
grassy mix) and project it onto their chosen targets. Spitting is mostly
reserved for other alpacas, but an alpaca will also occasionally spit at a
human.
Spitting can result in what is called "sour mouth". Sour mouth is characterized
by a loose-hanging lower lip and a gaping mouth. alpaca citation needed alpaca
Alpacas can spit for several reasons. A female alpaca spits when she's not
interested in a male alpaca, typically when she thinks she's already
impregnated. Both sexes of alpaca keep others away from their food, or anything
they have their eyes on. Most give a slight warning before spitting by blowing
air out and raising their heads, giving their ears a "pinned" appearance. alpaca
11 alpaca
Alpacas can spit up to ten feet if they need to. For example, if another animal
does not back off, the alpaca will throw up its stomach contents, resulting in a
lot of spit. alpaca 12 alpaca
Some signs of stress which can lead to their spitting habits include: humming, a
wrinkle under their eye, drooling, rapid breathing, and stomping their feet.
When alpacas show any sign of interest or alertness, they tend to sniff their
surroundings, watch closely, or stand quietly in place and stare. alpaca 12
alpaca
When it comes to reproduction, they spit because it is a response triggered by
the progesterone levels being increased, which is associated with ovulation.
alpaca 13 alpaca
Hygiene
Alpacas are generally very organized and neat. When they defecate they usually
designate one place, even if they need to walk farther away. They use a communal
dung pile. alpaca 14 alpaca Their waste is collected and used as garden
fertilizer or even natural fertilizer. alpaca 2 alpaca
Another factor that goes into alpaca hygiene alpaca 15 alpaca alpaca better
source needed alpaca is their tooth care. When observing the teeth of an alpaca,
it is a good way to tell if they have a healthy digestive system. Alpacas have
their full set of adult teeth by the age of six. Male alpacas have 32 teeth and
female alpacas have 30 teeth. Males have two extra teeth, called fighting teeth,
but females only rarely have these. Alpacas have six lower incisors which help
them bite off plants to chew. They do not have any upper incisors, but their
mouths are lined up perfectly so that they have the ability to eat grass, hay,
and plants.
There are warning signs to when an alpaca may have dental hygiene problems. One
way to tell is if they take a while to chew their grass or hay or when they are
eating, they continue to spill all their food and not keep it in their mouths.
Another sign can be the poor body condition and if their cheeks are pushed in.
Alpacas use a communal dung pile, where they do not graze. This behaviour tends
to limit the spread of internal parasites. Generally, males have much tidier,
and fewer dung piles than females, which tend to stand in a line and all go at
once. One female approaches the dung pile and begins to urinate and/or defecate,
and the rest of the herd often follows.
Because of their preference for using a dung pile, some alpacas have been
successfully house-trained. alpaca citation needed alpaca
Sounds
Suri alpacas
Alpacas make a variety of sounds, including:
Humming: When alpacas are born, the mother and its child hum constantly. They
also hum as a sign of distress, especially when they are separated from their
herd. Alpacas may also hum if they are curious, happy, worried or cautious.
Snorting: Alpacas snort when another alpaca is invading their space.
Grumbling: Alpacas grumble to warn each other. For example, when one is invading
another's personal space, it sounds like they are gurgling.
Clucking: Similar to a hen’s cluck, alpacas cluck when a mother is concerned for
her cria. Male alpacas will cluck to signal friendly behavior. alpaca 2 alpaca
Screaming: Their screams are extremely deafening and loud. They will scream when
they are not handled correctly or when they are being attacked by a potential
enemy.
Screeching: A bird-like cry, presumably intended to terrify the opponent. This
sound is typically used by a male alpaca when they are in a fight over who will
dominate. When a female screeches, it is more of a growl when they are angry.
Reproduction
Females are induced ovulators; alpaca 16 alpaca the act of mating and the
presence of semen causes them to ovulate. Females usually conceive after just
one breeding, but occasionally do have trouble conceiving. Artificial
insemination is technically difficult, expensive and not common, but it can be
accomplished. Embryo transfer is more widespread.
A male is usually ready to mate for the first time between two and three years
of age. It is not advisable to allow a young female to be bred until she is
mature and has reached two-thirds of her mature weight. Over-breeding a young
female before conception is possibly a common cause of uterine infections. As
the age of maturation varies greatly between individuals, it is usually
recommended that novice breeders wait until females are 18 months of age or
older before initiating breeding. alpaca 17 alpaca
Alpacas can breed at any time but it is more difficult to breed in the winter.
Most breed during autumn or late spring. alpaca 18 alpaca alpaca better source
needed alpaca The most popular way to have alpacas mate is pen mating. Pen
mating is when they move both the female and the desired male into a pen.
Another way is paddock mating where one male alpaca is let loose in the paddock
with several female alpacas. alpaca 18 alpaca alpaca better source needed alpaca
The gestation period is, on an average, 11.5 months, and usually results in a
single offspring, or cria. Twins are rare, occurring about once per 1000
deliveries. alpaca 19 alpaca Cria are generally between 15 and 19 pounds, and
are standing 30 to 90 minutes after birth. alpaca 20 alpaca After a female gives
birth, she is generally receptive to breeding again after about two weeks. Crias
may be weaned through human intervention at about six months old and 60 pounds,
but many breeders prefer to allow the female to decide when to wean her
offspring; they can be weaned earlier or later depending on their size and
emotional maturity.
The average lifespan of an alpaca is between 15–20 years, and the longest-lived
alpaca on record is 27 years. alpaca 21 alpaca
Habitat and lifestyle
Alpacas can be found native all over South America. They typically live in
temperate conditions in the mountains with high altitudes.
They are easy to care for since they are not limited to a specific type of
environment. Animals such as flamingos, condors, spectacled bears, mountain
lions, coyotes, llamas, and sheep live near alpacas when they are in their
natural habitat.
Population
Alpacas are native to Peru; it currently has the largest population of alpacas
in the world. About half of the alpacas worldwide are in Peru. alpaca 22 alpaca
The population declined drastically after the Spanish Conquistadors invaded the
Andes mountains in 1532, after which 98% of the animals were destroyed. The
Spanish also brought with them diseases that were fatal to alpacas. alpaca 23
alpaca
As a result of the invasion, alpacas were forced to move higher into the
mountains and remained there permanently. Although alpacas had almost been wiped
out completely, they were rediscovered sometime during the 19th century by
Europeans. After finding uses for them, the animals became important to
societies during the industrial revolution. alpaca 24 alpaca
Today, alpacas can be found all over the world, only excluding the Antarctic.
Diet
File:Alpaca-tobudobutsuen-2012.ogv
(video) An Alpaca chewing
Alpacas chew their food which ends up being mixed with their cud and saliva and
then they swallow it. They bring up the cud and chew it while they are resting,
which is called regorgitating. Alpacas usually eat 1.5% alpaca 25 alpaca of its
body weight for normal growth. They mainly need pasture grass, hay, or silage
but some may also need supplemental energy and protein foods and they will also
normally try to chew on almost anything (e.g. empty bottle). Most alpaca
ranchers rotate their feeding grounds so the grass can regrow and fecal
parasites may die before reusing the area. Pasture grass is a great source of
protein. When seasons change, the grass loses or gains more protein. For
example, in the spring, the pasture grass has about 20% protein while in the
summer, it only has 6%. alpaca 26 alpaca They need more energy supplements in
the winter to produce body heat and warmth. They get their fiber from hay or
from long stems which provides them with vitamin E. Green grass contains vitamin
A and E.
Alpacas can eat natural unfertilized grass; however, ranchers can also
supplement grass with low-protein grass hay. To provide selenium and other
necessary vitamins, ranchers will feed their domestic alpacas a daily dose of
grain to provide additional nutrients that are not fully obtained from their
primary diet. alpaca 27 alpaca Alpacas may obtain the necessary vitamins in
their native grazing ranges.
Digestion
Alpacas, like other camelids, have a three-chambered stomach; combined with
chewing cud, this three-chambered system allows maximum extraction of nutrients
from low-quality forages. Alpacas are not ruminants, pseudo-ruminants, or
modified ruminants. alpaca 28 alpaca
Alpacas will chew their food in a figure eight motion, swallow the food, and
then pass it into one of the stomach's chambers. The first and second chambers
(called C1 and C2) are where the fermentation process begins. The alpaca will
further absorb nutrients and water in the first part of the third chamber. The
end of the third chamber (called C3) is where the stomach secretes acids to
digest food, and is the likely place where an alpaca will have ulcers, if
stressed.
Poisonous plants
Many plants are poisonous to the alpaca, including the bracken fern, fireweed,
oleander, and some azaleas. In common with similar livestock, others include:
acorns, African rue, agave, amaryllis, autumn crocus, bear grass, broom
snakeweed, buckwheat, ragweed, buttercups, calla lily, orange tree foliage,
carnations, castor beans, and many others. alpaca 29 alpaca
History of the scientific name
The relationship between alpacas and vicuñas was disputed for many years. In the
18th and 19th centuries, the four South American lamoid species were assigned
scientific names. At that time, the alpaca was assumed to be descended from the
llama, ignoring similarities in size, fleece and dentition between the alpaca
and the vicuña. Classification was complicated by the fact that all four species
of South American camelid can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. alpaca
30 alpaca The advent of DNA technology made a more accurate classification
possible.
In 2001, the alpaca genus classification changed from Lama pacos to Vicugna
pacos, following the presentation of a paper alpaca 31 alpaca on work by Dr.
Jane Wheeler et al. on alpaca DNA to the Royal Society showing the alpaca is
descended from the vicuña, not the guanaco.
Fiber
Main article: Alpaca fiber
A selection of products made from alpaca fiber
Traditional alpaca clothing at the Otavalo Artisan Market in the Andes of
Ecuador
A knitted scarf made from alpaca wool
File:180522-alpaca-spinnen-gotthard-passhöhe-silent.webm
Spinning alpaca wool, Gotthard Pass, 2018.
Alpaca fleece is a lustrous and silky natural fiber. While similar to sheep’s
wool, it is warmer, not prickly, and bears no lanolin, which makes it
hypoallergenic. alpaca 32 alpaca alpaca 33 alpaca Without lanolin, it does not
repel water. It is also soft and luxurious. In physical structure, alpaca fiber
is somewhat akin to hair, being very glossy. alpaca 3 alpaca The preparing,
carding, spinning, weaving and finishing process of alpaca is very similar to
the process used for wool. Alpaca fiber is also flame-resistant, and meets the
US Consumer Product Safety Commission's standards. alpaca 34 alpaca
Alpacas are typically sheared once per year in the spring. Each shearing
produces approximately five to ten pounds (2.2–4.5 kilograms) of fiber per
alpaca. An adult alpaca might produce 50 to 90 ounces (1420–2550 grams) of
first-quality fiber as well as 50 to 100 ounces (1420–2840 grams) of second- and
third-quality fiber. The quality of alpaca fiber is determined by how crimpy it
is. Typically, the greater the number of small folds in the fiber, the greater
the quality.
Knitting with commercially spun alpaca fiber is easy since it is very soft, and
no more slippery than sheep's wool. (It is slightly harder to spin by hand
because it lacks the large scales of sheep wool and thus doesn't twist together
quite as well.) Alpaca yarn has become very popular with hand-knitters in the
United States in the last decade. Handmade alpaca (and alpaca blend) garments
made for sale are very common, especially in Peru and Bolivia. In Peru, there
are two upscale companies that sell the majority of machine-made alpaca
sweaters, scarves, ponchos, etc., as well as many other smaller companies in
both countries that produce machine-made alpaca garments, generally for the
tourist market. For production knitting there is a technique used with alpaca
(or wool) yarn, between hand- and machine-made, that of 'hand-loomed.' This term
means that the garment was made on a rather low-tech knitting 'machine' (such as
the old Brother brand) where every stitch must be hooked up by hand in the
proper color. Then the carriage is passed along the whole width of the garment,
effectively joining the stitches to those below or knitting them. Many
tourist-destined sweaters, scarves and so forth in South American shops are made
by this method. Hand-looming obviously necessitates a relatively expensive
machine, so caps, sweaters, and shawls are more commonly made entirely by hand,
with two knitting needles or a circular needle or 4-5 double-pointed needles for
socks. Weaving with alpaca is done by many indigenous groups around the Cuzco
region of Peru, creating fine, strong shawls and so forth with a nice drape.
Alpaca garments can last for an extremely long time, but beware as clothes moths
seem to adore the fiber. As the fiber is soft and luxurious it is the choice of
some high end alpaca knitwear and sweater companies.
Prices
The price for American Alpacas can range from US$50 for a castrated male
(gelding) to US$500,000 for the highest in the world, depending on breeding
history, sex, and color. alpaca 35 alpaca According to an academic study, alpaca
36 alpaca though, the higher prices sought for alpaca breeding stock are largely
speculative and not supported by market fundamentals, given the low inherent
returns per head from the main end product, alpaca fiber, and prices into the
$100s per head rather than $10,000s would be required for a commercially viable
fiber production herd. alpaca 37 alpaca Breeding stock prices in Australia have
fallen from A$10,000–30,000 head in 1997 to an average of A$3,000–4,000 today
alpaca citation needed alpaca .
It is possible to raise up to 25 alpacas per hectare (10 alpacas per acre),
alpaca 38 alpaca as they have a designated area for waste products and keep
their eating area away from their waste area. However, this ratio differs from
country to country and is highly dependent on the quality of pasture available
(in many desert locations it is generally only possible to run one to three
animals per acre due to lack of suitable vegetation). Fiber quality is the
primary variant in the price achieved for alpaca wool; in Australia, it is
common to classify the fiber by the thickness of the individual hairs and by the
amount of vegetable matter contained in the supplied shearings.
Livestock
A Bolivian man and his alpaca
Alpacas need to eat 1–2% of body weight per day, so about two 60 lb (27 kg)
bales of grass hay per month per animal. When formulating a proper diet for
alpacas, water and hay analysis should be performed to determine the proper
vitamin and mineral supplementation program. Two options are to provide free
choice salt/mineral powder, or feed a specially formulated ration. Indigenous to
the highest regions of the Andes, this harsh environment has created an
extremely hardy animal, so only minimal housing and predator fencing are needed.
alpaca 39 alpaca The alpaca’s three-chambered stomachs allow for extremely
efficient digestion. There are no viable seeds in the manure, because alpacas
prefer to only eat tender plant leaves, and will not consume thick plant stems;
therefore, alpaca manure does not need composting to enrich pastures or
ornamental landscaping. Nail and teeth trimming is needed every six to twelve
months, along with annual shearing.
Similar to ruminants, such as cattle and sheep, alpacas have only lower teeth at
the front of their mouths; therefore, they do not pull grass up by the roots.
Rotating pastures is still important, though, as alpacas have a tendency to
regraze an area repeatedly. Alpacas are fiber-producing animals; they do not
need to be slaughtered to reap their product, and their fiber is a renewable
resource that grows yearly.
Cultural presence
Alpacas are closely tied to cultural practices for Andeans people. Prior to
colonization, the image of the alpaca was used in rituals and in their religious
practices. Since the people in the region depended heavily on these animals for
their sustenance, the alpaca was seen as a gift from Pachamama. Alpacas were
used for their meat, fibers for clothing, and art, and their images in the form
of conopas.
Conopas take their appearance from the Suri alpacas, with long locks flanking
their sides and bangs covering the eyes, and a depression on the back. This
depression is used in ritual practices, usually filled with coca leaves and fat
from alpacas and lamas, to bring fertility and luck. While their use was
prevalent before colonization, the attempts to convert the Andean people to
Catholicism led to the acquisition of more than 3,400 conopas in Lima alone.
The origin of alpaca is depicted in legend; the legend states they came to be in
the world after a goddess fell in love with a man. The goddess’ father only
allowed her to be with her lover if he cared for her herd of alpacas. On top of
caring for the herd, he was to always carry a small animal for his entire life.
As the goddess came into our world, the alpacas followed her. Everything was
fine until the man set the small animal down, and the goddess fled back to her
home. On her way back home, the man attempted to stop her and her herd from
fleeing. While he was not able to stop her from returning, he was able to stop a
few alpacas from returning. These alpacas who didn’t make it back are seen today
in the swampy lands in the Andes waiting for the end of world, so they may
return to their goddess. alpaca 40 alpaca
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