The Llama

A brief description of a majestique creature

Llama's Origin

Llamas are South American members of the Camelid family originating in the high Andes and are related to the camels of Asia and the Middle East. Llamas and alpacas are domesticated camelids and guanacos and vicunas are wild. Llamas have been developed over the centuries mainly as work animals. Depending on its fineness, llama can also be used to make ropes, blankets and clothing.In the early 1900's, llamas were found mainly in zoos and private collections in the United States. Importation was stopped in the 1930's, however, in recent years, some investors have been able to import llamas from Chile, Bolivia and Peru for breeding and research. Most llamas in the United States have been bred and raised in North America. It is estimated that there are 100,000 llama in the United States. Llama are domesticated livestock and are used as pack animals, pets, guard animals, entertainers, race companions, fiber producers and cart-pullers.

Physical traits

Llamas are very intelligent animals and their calm disposition makes them an ideal choice for first time animal owners. They stand approximately 4' at the shoulder and weigh from 250 to 400 pounds as adults with long necks, erect curved ears, large doe-like eyes and unique cloven foot. Llama are sure footed animals because of their soft leather-like pad on the bottom of their foot. The cloven foot consists of 2 toes and each toe has a hard nail. The upper lip is cleft (split) and prehensile, meaning to grasp. Like all ruminants, they have front teeth only on the lower jaw. With 2 types of grease-free fiber in its coat: a long, coarse guard hair fiber, which aids in air circulation, and a shorter, lightweight, finer fiber which helps keep the animal warm in cold weather. Llama fiber comes in a wide variety of colors: white, brown, black, rust, gray, and all shades in between. The fiber varies in length from 3 to 12 inches. Llamas live as long as 25 years with the females having babies for 15 to 20 years.

Social and Inteligence

Llamas, like human beings and other animals, each have a different temperament. Most llamas are curious about the world around them and interested in anything that is not familiar to them. They like to spend time with other llamas and are very willing to work with people when it means that they can enjoy doing new and different things.By nature they are social animals which mean they need to be with other llamas or animals. Llama hum to communicate with other llama, their babies or from loneliness. It may make a clucking sound if it is irritated, may give a warning call if it sees a coyote or strange dog or may scream if it is really angry or in a fight.

Llamas are herbivores, preferring to munch on low shrubs, lichens, grasses, seeds, grains, roots and other mountain vegetation. They graze throughout the day and, like cows, regurgitate their food and chew it as cud. Because their natural habitat -- the Andean highlands in Peru -- is very dry, llamas have adapted to small amounts of water. They only consume around two to three gallons of water and only eat around 1 to 2 percent of their body weight in food each day. Llamas can live for up to 25 years and females can reproduce for 15 to 20 years. A sexually mature female llama will live in a harem of about five other females and one dominant male. They tend to mate in the late summer and early fall, giving birth to one infant each year. A newborn llama weighs around 22 pounds. Llamas have been domesticated for hundreds of years, however, they evolved for living in high altitudes as high as 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Their tendency to live in groups means they have developed several interesting behaviors.

Interesting Facts About the Llama

• Unusual Blood - Llamas have a very high content of hemoglobin (this carries oxygen) in their bloodstream, and oval-shaped red blood cells for living at high altitudes, where there are low levels of oxygen.
• Induced Ovulators – Llamas are unlike most other mammals, in that they do not have an estrus cycle in which an egg is automatically released at regular intervals. Instead, llamas are “induced ovulators,” for whom mating stimulates release of the egg 24 – 36 hours after copulation.
• Guard Animals – Llamas are aggressive to predators and, because of this, they are commonly used as guard animals for horses, sheep, goats, and hens. Typically, a single castrated male is used for such guard duty.
• Spitting – Llamas are very social animals. However, in dominance disputes, they will spit at each other, and are known for spitting at humans.

Reproduction of the Llama

Llamas do not have an estrus cycle, but tend to mate in late summer and early autumn. In the breeding season, male llamas develop a harem of approximately 6 females with which they mate – this type of breeding system is called “polygyny.” The males become extremely aggressive towards other males who approach the harem.Both males and females become sexually mature at 2 – 3 years of age. Rather curiously, mating occurs in a lying-down position. The pregnancy (gestation) period is 10 – 12 months long, and usually a female produces only one offspring (sometimes called a “cria”). The youngsters can run within an hour after birth, and are weaned at 3 – 5 months of age; they become totally independent shortly after. When the crias are about 12 months old, the male drives them from his territory.