Alpaca
Alpaca
Alpaca (/ælˈpækə/ al-PAK-ə) is a species of South American camelid, similar to, and often confused with the llama. However, alpacas are often noticeably smaller than llamas. The two animals are closely related and can successfully cross-breed.
Etymology
The word "alpaca" comes from the Spanish word "alpaco", which was borrowed from the Aymara language. The Aymara word "allpaqa" refers to the animal we know today as the alpaca.
Description
Alpacas are social herd animals that live in family groups consisting of a territorial alpha male, females and their young. They are gentle, elegant, inquisitive, intelligent and observant. As they are a prey animal, they are cautious and nervous if they feel threatened. They like having their own space and may not like an unfamiliar alpaca or human getting close, especially from behind.
Alpaca Fiber
Alpaca fiber is a type of wool that is known for its softness, durability, and luster. It is also hypoallergenic. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, similar to wool. These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles and ponchos in South America, and sweaters, socks, coats and bedding in other parts of the world.
Related Terms
- Camelid: Camelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only currently living family in the suborder Tylopoda.
- Llama: The llama is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since the Pre-Columbian era.
- Vicuña: The vicuña is one of the two wild South American camelids which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes, the other being the guanaco.
- Guanaco: The guanaco is a camelid native to South America, closely related to the llama. Its name comes from the Quechua word huanaco.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alpaca
- Wikipedia's article - Alpaca
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