In South America there are native species of camelids: llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. Often, many travelers and visitors confuse them at first glance. These four species mentioned above share certain similarities and it is normal not to be able to distinguish one species from the other.
Learn to identify these tender Andean camelids.
Don't worry. Here you will know everything you need to be able to differentiate these adorable friends from the Peruvian Andes.
They are approximately half the size of llamas, have symmetrical, pear-shaped ears and are covered in very fine, more uniformly colored fur. They are most often seen gathered in herds in almost all Andean landscapes. Their fiber is highly valued in the world, since it is of great quality, even softer than cashmere. Alpaca fiber comes in up to 22 colors, making it possible to make very distinctive scarves, coats, and blankets. You will most likely have to spend a little more to get an original alpaca garment, but you will certainly get a nice souvenir from the land of the Incas.
If you look at the National Coat of Arms of Peru, in the upper left quadrant, on a blue background, you will see the figure of a small brown and white animal. This is the vicuña, the national symbol of the animal wealth of this country. Unlike alpacas and llamas that are more domestic in nature, vicuñas roam on their own. That is why it is possible to see them grazing on top of a hill, under a sunny blue sky, in the middle of nature. Vicuñas are shy creatures, difficult to capture in a selfie. They are also an endangered species, so the State protects them from indiscriminate hunting. As for their soft, heavenly fur, it can only be sheared every three years, so it's possible to pay upwards of $3,000 for a vicuña wool item in stores. Like alpaca fiber, during the time of the Incas, vicuña wool was reserved only for rulers and royalty.
Appearance: Alpacas are smaller than llamas, with a more compact body and a smaller head. Their dense, soft fur can come in a variety of colors, including white, black, brown, and shades of gray.
Size: Alpacas are smaller than llamas, with a height at the withers of about 0.8 to 1.0 meters and a weight ranging from 55 to 65 kilograms.
Use: Alpaca wool is highly valued for its softness, warmth, and strength. It is used to make a variety of high-quality textile products, such as sweaters, scarves, blankets, and luxury clothing.
Fiber: Alpaca fiber is very soft, warm, and light. The fiber has a variety of natural colors resembling autumn or wood colors.
Behavior: Alpacas are domesticated animals that are raised primarily for their high-quality wool. They are more docile than llamas and can be raised in larger herds.
Appearance: Vicuñas are the smallest and most graceful of the camelids, with a slender body and long legs. They have long, soft fur that is golden brown on the back and white on the belly and face.
Size: Vicuñas are smaller than alpacas, with a height at the withers of about 0.7 to 0.9 meters and a weight ranging from 35 to 65 kilograms.
Use: Vicuña wool is considered one of the finest and most expensive fibers in the world. Due to regulation obtained from laws and conservation efforts, the harvesting of vicuña wool is done in a sustainable and controlled manner.
Fiber: Vicuña fiber is the finest in the world and is considered extremely luxurious and expensive.
Behavior: Vicuñas are wild animals that usually live in high altitude areas in the Andes. They are very agile and fast, allowing them to quickly escape from predators.
