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The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a South American camelid that is similar in appearance to the llama. Its range includes the Andes Mountains, in areas of Ecuador, northern Bolivia and Chile, and southern Peru. It is a domesticated animal that is kept in herds in flat, grassy areas at altitudes of up to 16,000 feet. For many years there was confusion concerning the classification of the four species of South American lamoids, including the alpaca. Until 2001, it was accepted that this species derived from the llama, but this was changed when DNA testing showed that it was more closely related to the vicuña. Its current scientific name reflects this.
There are no records of wild alpacas in history, but it is known that they have been domesticated for thousands of years. In northern Peru, the Moche people used the alpaca in their art. In the Andean culture, the alpaca was once thought to be a delicacy, but today it is mostly used for its fiber. Illegal smuggling of the alpaca has become a problem due to the increased demand for its fibers. Crossbreeding has been found to produce highly valued half llama, half alpaca individuals, known as huarizo, that have fine hair and good dispositions.
The alpaca is smaller than the llama, reaching an average weight between 106 and 185 pounds, with an average height of up to 3.2 feet at the shoulders. It comes in many different colors, but these are classified in different numbers in different areas. In the United States, there are sixteen registered colors of alpaca, twelve in Australia, and fifty-two registered natural colors in Peru. This species is bred specifically for the production of its fine fleece, which is used to make many items such as clothing, blankets, and other similar products. Typically, the term “alpaca” is used in the textile business to denote fibers shorn from Peruvian alpacas, but this term has broadened to mean fleece made from other alpacas and even wool from sheep.
