How to Tell a Llama From an Alpaca

If you have heard of llamas and alpacas, you may have thought that the two names were interchangeable for the same animal. In fact, these creatures are two different animals with distinct characteristics. Although they may look alike, it is easy to tell a llama from an alpaca.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Compare the overall size of the two animals. Although similar in appearance, the adult llama is nearly twice the size of the full-grown alpaca. Adult alpacas max out around 175 pounds whereas fully-grown llamas can reach up to 400 pounds. Baby alpacas weigh about 18 pounds at birth compared to an infant llama's size of 25 pounds.

2. Look at the coats of fur. The llama has two coats—a coarse, thick outer coat and a smooth, fine inner coat. The alpaca only has one coat, which is very fine and silky. Even though it only has a single coat, the alpaca produces much more cloth fiber than the llama. Alpaca wool produces soft, high-quality sweaters.

3. Observe the backpacking, cart-pulling and weight-bearing abilities. Breeders use llamas as beasts of burden and handle these tasks much better than alpacas.

4. Notice the ears. Llamas' ears are long and banana-shaped; alpacas have shorter ears that look like spears.

5. Look at the backs and tails. If its back is straight and long and the tail is set high, you have a llama. If the back is short with a rounded rump and a low-set tail, then you have an alpaca.

6. Offer the animal something to eat. If it prefers wet soft grass plants then it is an alpaca. A llama prefers for dry, coarse grub such as straw or hay.