Surprise your friends, make conversation, or win an obscure trivia question with these interesting alpaca facts.
Alpacas are soft, gentle, and curious creatures. They are often mistaken for llamas, a close but much larger relative. Learn more about the differences between alpacas and llamas.
Alpacas are very interesting animals and it’s likely there’s a lot you don’t know about them. Continue reading for 10 alpaca facts you’ve probably never heard.
1. Alpaca fibre is water and flame resistant
Alpaca fibre is extremely durable while being smoother, warmer, and stronger than most types of fibre. It is considered to be as soft as cashmere and comes in 22 separate colours and shades. These unique characteristics make it a highly sought after product around the world.
Alpacas don’t produce lanolin like sheep do, so the fibre can be produced quickly after an alpaca is sheared. Alpaca fibre is also hypoallergenic, so those with allergies to sheep’s wool will not be affected by their fibre.
And that’s right, it’s both water and flame resistant!
2. Alpacas are extremely old
Alpacas (and llamas) date back 6000 years. They were bred for fibre and food by the ancient Incas in South America, primarily in what is now Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. Their fibre was so valued it was reserved for only the highest members of Inca society, such as royalty. Alpacas, as well as llamas, were treasured by the Inca culture.
3) There are two types of alpaca
There are two different breeds of alpaca: the huacaya (pronounced wuh-kai-ya) and the suri.
Suri alpacas have long fibres that grow straight down in subtle, lustrous ringlets that hang off their body. The look of their fibre has been compared to the dreadlocks that humans sometimes wear.
Huacaya alpacas are much more common and make up the vast majority of alpacas in North America. Their fleece is fluffy and curly, similar to sheep, and grows perpendicular to its body.
4. Alpacas are not only used for fibre
Although alpacas are everything cute and cuddly, they are sometimes eaten. Alpaca meat is highly sought after in some cultures.
While still rare in most parts of the world, alpaca meat is considered a delicacy in Peru and is served in several restaurants there.
5. Alpacas can die of loneliness
In the words of Bruce Springsteen, “Don’t make no difference what nobody says, ain’t nobody like to be alone.”
This is especially true of alpacas. An alpaca can actually die of loneliness. This is an especially important thing to know when considering buying an alpaca for a pet. Alpacas are extremely social animals that are bred to live in herds. If you are considering buying an alpaca as a pet, you must be prepared to buy two or more.
6. Alpacas share a bathroom
Unlike other herd and farm animals that tend to go anywhere they feel like, alpacas share a few specific areas for relieving themselves. These communal poo piles are easy to clean and limit the growth of parasites. Alpaca dung is also an excellent fertilizer and—compared to other forms of dung—does not have much of a smell.
7. There are no wild alpacas
It’s true. The only alpacas you will find in the world live on farms, or have owners who tend to them. There is, however, another camelid from South America called the vicuña. Alpacas are domesticated versions of vicuñas. Vicuñas are very similar to alpacas, but they are smaller, live high up in the Andes mountains, and do not like to be disturbed by humans.
Vicunas
8. Alpacas use their tails to communicate
Having the severe disadvantage of not being able to speak a human language, alpacas need to communicate how they’re feeling in different ways. They accomplish this with their tail. When an alpaca’s tail is relaxed, gently swishing back and forth, it means that the alpaca is relaxed. A tail that is flipped over its rear end indicates uncertainty or submission. An alpaca with a flipped tail may be asking a question.
If an alpaca is irritated, their tail will violently swish back and forth, or be rigid. An alpaca will also keep their tail taut against their backend to indicate its unhappiness.
9. Alpacas can breed with llamas
Alpacas and llamas are closely related, with a few key differences. However, these differences do not mean they can’t be successfully bred together. The offspring of an alpaca-llama crossbreed is called a huarzio. They are very rare, and usually sterile. They are not as tall as llamas and have longer fibre. Although their fibre is coarser than that of the alpaca, is can still be used in fabric.
10. Alpacas don’t spit very often
Yes, alpacas spit. But it’s not as bad as their public perception makes it out to be. Alpacas tend to only spit at each other, and it’s usually about food. Occasionally a female alpaca will spit at an approaching male alpaca to indicate she’s not interested.
At first it will be a warning. The alpaca will only spit what they have in their mouth, with a sharp exhale. If the alpaca’s irritation or fright continues, it will pull up the contents of its stomach (usually green in colour) and spit yet again. The spit is so smelly and disgusting that the alpaca who spit will then have to leave their own mouth open for minutes afterward, trying to air it out. They don’t like the taste, so they only spit when they think they have to.
It is rare for an alpaca to do this to a human unless they feel very threatened.