Throughout our travels of South America, we have seen a wide variety of llama-like animals. Some thriving in great numbers in remote and hostile landscapes. Their size varies, and so do their apparent attitude towards us. What, and who, are these animals? We started to do some reading on the specific differences between them, and learn a little about who we were encountering so frequently.

The connection is they are all South American members of the camel family without humps. They are slender-bodied animals and have long legs and necks, short tails, small heads, and large, pointed ears. Some are wild, some are domesticated. The information seemed a little dry, so we thought it best to go directly to the source, and ask the animals themselves what they think of the rest of their gregarious cousins. The interview quickly turned into a boasting match between them, so we included a little need to know information of our own.

Domesticated
Height: 170-180cm (65-70in)
Weight: 130-200kg (285-440lbs)
Personality Traits: Confident, independent, arrogant and brave.
Coat: Although usually white, the llama may be solid black or brown, or it may be white with black or brown markings.
Wool: Inferior to the wool of an alpaca. Sheared every 1-2 years.
Interesting Fact: Nicknamed ‘Beasts of Burden.’ They know their own limits and will refuse to move, or simply just lay down if you load them with too much.

Domesticated
Height: 81-91cm (30-35in)
Weight: 55-65kg (120-145lbs)
Personality Traits: Gentle, dependent, curious and shy.
Coat: The alpaca varies in colour. Usually it is black or brown, but can also be grey, tan, and white.
Wool: One of the finest in the world. Once reserved only for royalty. Sheered every 1-2 years, depending on their coat and where they live.
Interesting Fact: There are two types: Suri and the Huacaya. The Suri looks like it has dreadlocks. The Huacaya is more crimped looking.

Wild
Height: 100-120cm (40-45in)
Weight: 90-140kg (195-310lbs)
Personality Traits: Calm, intelligent, cautious and swift.
Coat: Guanacos have pale brown backs with white undersides and a grayish head.
Wool: Guanaco wool is better than llama wool, but inferior to alpaca and vicuña wool. Can be sheared every year.
Interesting Fact: A newborn guanaco is called a chulengo, and is able to walk and keep up with the herd right away.

Wild
Height: 75-85cm (30-35in)
Weight: 35-65kg (75-145lbs)
Personality Traits: Shy, alert, nervous and graceful.
Coat: The vicuña has a light brown/cinnamon back and head, with white undersides.
Wool: One of the finest in the world. Vicuñas cannot be domesticated so all wool is taken from wild ones. Sheared once every 2-4 years.
Interesting Fact: They have large hearts and specialized blood cells with hemoglobin of greater affinity for oxygen for the high-altitudes where they roam.