For the love of the adorable creatures the Llama and Alpaca!
Beserk stocks llama and alpaca clothing, socks, collectables, homewares, games, enamel pins, llama socks, llama planters, alpaca solar dancers, "spit happens" mugs, llama tea infusers, air fresheners, salt and pepper sets, alpaca and llama accessories and so much more llama and alpaca stuff!
A lot of people have trouble telling the difference between alpacas and llamas (that's why we have created our combined llamas and alpacas collection!). At first glance, alpacas may resemble their larger camelid cousin the llama, but they are quite different. Alpaca ears have short spear-shaped ears while llamas have much longer, banana-shaped ears. Alpacas generally weigh in at around 150 pounds while llamas can get as heavy as 400 pounds. At the shoulder, an average alpaca stands between 34 and 36 inches, while a llama generally ranges between 42 and 46 inches. Llamas have a longer face; an alpaca’s face is a bit more blunt, giving them a “smooshed in” look. For more than 5,000 years alpacas have been bred for fibre (and in Peru for meat as well), while llamas have been bred for the same amount of time as pack animals and meat. The alpaca produces a much finer fibre than the llama. The alpaca also produces more fleece than its larger cousin and in a much greater variety of colours. Llamas also generally do not have as much hair on their head and faces as alpacas do. Alpacas are very much herd animals, while llamas are more independent-minded. Alpacas also tend to be a bit more skittish than llamas, which are often used as guard animals for alpacas, sheep, and other small livestock.
And there you have it, the main differences between alpacas and llamas. Now you know. Which do you like best?
