Llama vs Alpacas: The Age-Old Debate… What’s the Difference?
Alpaca vs llamas
So, you are wondering what the differences are between alpaca vs llamas? This will give you a more definitive answer than you could ever have hoped to find anywhere else. You are on an oddities website, so I truly hope you are not surprised by this topic and the level of weird that is found within. Today, we are going to learn together about these two beautiful creatures of the wild in an article we would like to call “Llama vs Alpacas”. Maybe we should we call it “Alpaca vs llamas”. You know what, it will depend on what we find out in this article about the two of them. Yes, we will see who wins in a fight between the two by the end of this article… duh.
First appearence differences Llama vs Alpacas
For more than 6000 years, alpacas and llamas have been bred for their own different reasons and qualities. Given the differences and what they were bred for reason wise, they have developed uniquely to each specific species over that period of time. Llamas were bred to be bigger and stronger for work. Reasons and alpacas were bred for their fur for fibrous reasons. This means that the llamas are larger than the alpacas as a direct result. The average alpaca is usually around 150 pounds. The average llama on the other hand is usually around 350 pounds. This is a glaringly obvious and blatant size difference, in order to make a clear distinction at first sight. The head of the alpacas is shorter and rounder than that of the llama. While the llama in contrast has a larger and much longer head and face than the alpaca, the ears of the alpaca are straight and point up into the air, while the llamas have a shape that resembles bananas and point less straight up into the air directly. The height difference is also something to take into consideration, while the So, you want to know generally average out around 36 inches tall the larger llamas average out around 48 inches in height. This means that not only do they weigh a great deal more than the alpacas, but they are also much taller. This height, of course, is taken from the ground to the shoulder, the same way that the height of a horse would be taken.
For fighting purposes this gives the obvious edge to the Llama due to its sheer size difference over the Alpaca. Not only is the Llama bigger and stronger, but it was literally bred for physical action, and it has been shown to kill predators.
The difference in hair
The quality of hair difference is something to take into consideration since the major difference in breeding reasons for alpacas that separates them from llamas is their fiber the quality of the alpaca’s hair is much higher than that of the llamas and it gets sheared about once a year, in order to make many various different items. Clothes and rugs are some of the items that can be made by this hair from the alpacas. The alpaca hair is incredibly soft and can be good for those that are susceptible to certain allergies from other forms of clothing material. In example, if you are allergic to the wool that comes from sheep in your clothing, then you can choose to wear and purchase clothing that is sourced from alpaca hair instead. Alpaca hair clothing is more expensive than wool sourced clothing, but every alpaca produces a great amount of hair every year.
Fancy Llamas?
Alpacas aren’t just Llamas with afros. They are far more than scene/emo Llamas, but their hair is incredibly important in making clothes and other supplies.
This is, of course, in stark contrast to the hair of the llamas, which were bred for work reasons instead of for their fibrous hair. The llamas hair is not nearly as soft or as abundant as the alpacas, and thus is not looked for as a resource for making clothes, and other items nearly as much as that of the alpacas. Where the llamas fall short in the category of lush, soft hair for clothing and item, reasons, they pick up in the work area. They have been known to kill wolves, and coyotes and other predators in order to keep the rest of the farm animals, safe. Smaller animals, such as chickens and goats on a farm, have a hard time defending themselves against these sorts of predators. However, the large animal in the form of a llama can defend their own self and the other animals on the farm incredibly well. Not only this, but the llama is able to carry a great deal of weight on its back and walk up and down difficult rocky mountain sides and other terrain. Llamas are smart and calm usually unless they are pushed too far.
For fighting reasons, we give the edge to the Alpaca. In this category, the Alpaca has more hair to cushion a blow or a bite from the offense of the opponent. The soft, thick hair of this animal will provide the best chance at armor and defense between the two.
Personality differences between llamas and alpacas
Alpacas can be loud and clearly voice, their opinions on certain matters, but are usually really nice overall. They cost more than llamas to purchase, and there are generally two types of alpacas. There are Suri and Huacaya alpacas. The Huacaya alpaca is generally the most commonly seen alpaca.
Taking this into consideration, the Alpacas are more likely to be pampered and have a louder bark than their bite. They don’t spit as hard or as good as the Llamas, so you can safely assume that they aren’t as good at actually fighting either in a more technical sense. The edge here goes to the Llama.
Llama vs Alpacas Personalities
The Llamas have a more laid back and confident personality.
Alpacas are more vocal and are sort of divas in comparison.
Both of these breeds of animal do and can spit. While alpacas usually do not do this, and they are not nearly as good at it as llamas, they do sometimes do it. The llamas, on the other hand, spit a great amount of gross green substance, if provoked.
The Llamas surely seem to be the strong silent type. The protector of the farm, and the Batman of the rural environment. While the Alpaca will be vocal and attempt to speak their peace, the Llama will stay to their own self until it is time to get real. The edge here goes to the Llama.
Background of breeding for Alpaca vs Llamas
These animals originate from South America, where they were originally found and bred nowadays, they are found on farms all across the world. The locations that have the most llamas and alpaca are usually Australia and America.
South America
While now-a-days both of these animals are found all over the world, they both come from the same area on Earth.
This, of course means that the stomping grounds of each animal are similar. That also equates to similar upbringings and affiliations. This category ends in a tie for both breeds of animal.
The Answer
Once we take everything into consideration, we have found our answer. The major differences between alpaca vs llamas are actually a great deal. Llamas are much larger in both height and weight. With a weight difference of around 200 pounds on average and a height difference of around a foot, the Llama is a more physical animal. Not only this, but they are more apt to defend themselves and other animals from harm as well. The Alpacas do have softer hair and more of it but are also more expensive as well.
This information provides you with your final answer in the form of a definitive victory for the Llama.
With the size difference being too great to overcome for the Alpaca, the Alpaca did try to fend off the attacks for as long as it could with its large amount of fluffy hair as a defense mechanism. There is just too much animal at the end of the day coming at the Alpaca, and thus the Llama takes the victory.
How many Alpacas would it take to beat one Llama in a fight?
By our calculations and estimations, everything here taken into careful consideration, we put this figure at right around 3 healthy Alpacas. While we still give a slight chance to the Llama in the scenario, we do recognize that the Alpacas may take the victory in the end if they have the numbers stacked in their favor like this.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this article! : )