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Alpaca Facts & Worksheets

The alpaca is a domesticated mammal that has thick, soft fleece used for wool and is native to South America.

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The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated South American member of the Camelidae family. Alpacas can be found in marshy mountainous terrain ranging from southern Colombia and Ecuador to northern Chile and Argentina. They have a slim build, a long neck and long legs, a short tail, a small head, and large pointed ears.

See the fact file below for more information on the Alpaca, or you can download our 29-page Alpaca worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Origin

  • For many years, the similarities/relationship between alpacas and vicunas was debated. The four South American lamoid species were given scientific names in the 18th and 19th centuries. The similarities in size, fleece, and dentition between the alpaca and the vicuna were disregarded at the time, leading to the incorrect assumption that the alpaca was a llama offshoot. 
  • The fact all four South American camelid species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring confounded classification. With the development of DNA technology, a more exact type became possible.
  • Following the presentation of a paper to the Royal Society on alpaca DNA by Miranda Kadwell et al. demonstrating that the alpaca is descended from the vicuna, and not the guanaco, the alpaca genus classification was changed from Lama pacos to Vicugna pacos in 2001.
  • During the Eocene epoch, 40-45 million years ago, the ancestor of all Camelidae, Protylopus, first arrived in the Americas. The descendants split into two groups, the Camelini and the Lamini, who followed separate migration routes to Asia and South America. 
  • Camelids died out in North America around 3 million years ago, but a thriving southern population gave rise to the modern camelids we know and love today. The Pliocene epoch between 2 and 5 million years ago, saw the division of the Hemiauchenia genus within the Lamini tribe into the Palaeolama and Lama; the Lama subsequently branched into the Lama and Vicugna during its migration to South America.
  • Vicuna and guanaco fossils date back 12,000 years in Peru. Domesticated vicunas, such as llamas and alpacas, have also been discovered mummified in the Moquegua valley in southern Peru, dating back between 900 and 1,000 years.
  • Alpacas have been traced back to either Lama guanicoe or Vicugna vicugna, or perhaps a combination of the two, according to another study that examines the animals’ behavioral and morphological traits compared to those of their wild counterparts.

Physical Attributes

  • Alpacas have long legs and necks, small heads, and huge, pointed ears, but their bodies are long and lean. They have a fluffy coat of fleece, which comes in a rainbow of colors and is practically free of guard hair. Alpacas’ soft, cushioned feet prevent them from damaging even the most delicate plants and landscapes when they graze. Huacaya and suri are the two main kinds of alpacas.
  • The huacaya subspecies account for 90-95% of the world’s alpaca population. Their woolly appearance is due to their crimpy fiber growing perpendicular to the skin. Suris have straight fiber and curls downward, creating a “dreadlocked” appearance. 
  • The suri could be better at withstanding harsh weather than the angora because of its finer, less dense coat. Only roughly 5,000 suris have been officially registered in the United States.
  • Huacaya alpacas are on display at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. Top, front teeth are absent in alpacas. In adult male alpacas, the upper and lower incisors and lower canines develop into fighting teeth or fangs over 1.2 inches in length. Men and women differ in the degree to which these teeth develop. Although male and female alpacas have somewhat different tooth shapes, sexual dimorphism is slight.
  • Alpacas are small domesticated camelids. Alpacas weigh 100-200 pounds as adults. Their head, body, and tail lengths range from 47 to 85 inches. Their shoulder height usually is 32 to 40 inches. Huacaya alpacas weigh 10-17 pounds at birth and 100-190 pounds as adults. Shoulder-height adults are 32 to 39 inches.

Habitat

  • Along with llamas, guanacos, and vicunas from South America, as well as Bactrian and Dromedary camels from Asia and Africa, alpacas are domesticated members of the camel family.
  • About 10 million years ago, the plains of North America were home to the first members of this animal family. About 2.5 million years ago, a common ancestor of the camelids of South America traveled there. Vicunas and guanacos, both of which are still found in the wild, are the remaining species in the Andes.
  • Alpacas, it is believed, were formed through selective breeding substantially influenced by the vicuna more than 6,000 years ago. Size, fiber, and teeth are where alpacas and wild vicunas are remarkably interchangeable (teeth). Llamas and their close relative, the alpaca, were among the most influential animals in the Americas before European colonization. Both species were utilized for their meat, fat, and hides, just as the buffalo of the Great Plains.
  • Unlike buffalo, however, alpacas and llamas were fully domesticated millennia before the Incas by people who bred wild species of South American camelids and realized the various benefits woven alpaca fiber afforded against the harsh environment in which they lived.
  • Andean ranchers continue to rely on alpacas for the same reasons they did centuries ago: they provide both luxury fiber and meat. Because of their small stature, they make a convenient pet and are much sought after. The alpaca may be trained to follow a lead, hop in and out of a car, cush (sit down), and do other easy tricks. 
  • The fleece of alpacas is desirable for its economic value; hence they are routinely sheared. Males produce about 8 pounds of readily marketable fiber annually, while females about 5 pounds.
  • There is a wide range of possible fiber colors and combinations from the natural hues in alpacas. As a result of its cellular structure, which is similar to that of hair, alpaca fiber is more durable and robust than Merino sheep wool. It has a significant demand in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Japan.

Physiology and Behavior

  • Alpacas are herd animals congregating in families led by a dominant male who defends his territory, females, and their young. When danger threatens, alpacas sound off with loud inhalations like a high-pitched bray to alert the herd. 
  • The herd can spit at and kick smaller predators. When alpacas are used to guard sheep, their natural hostility toward other members of the canid family (coyotes, foxes, dogs, etc.) is put to good use.
  • Sometimes alpacas are aggressive, but more often than not, they are kind, curious, and intelligent. While alpacas are generally somewhat reticent, males may get quite rowdy when engaged in a battle. When someone, or another alpaca, approaches them from behind, they may feel threatened.
  • Even within social groups, alpacas determine their own “personal space” boundaries. There is a distinct order among the alpacas, and every herd member knows the leaders. It’s all done through gestures and facial expressions. It helps keep things in charge there. 
  • The broadside posture, in which the ears are retracted, and the body positioned at an angle, is one form of nonverbal communication used by these creatures. Male alpacas will strike this position when protecting their herd’s turf.
  • The standard behavior of young ones is to move toward and sit under more oversized items. A mother’s alpaca and her infant are great examples of this. The same can happen when a younger alpaca walks past an older one.

Communication

  • Alpacas communicate with a faint hum, vocalizations, and body language like neck posturing, ear and tail positioning, and head tilting. They have superb eyesight and hearing and alert the herd and humans of danger with a staccato alarm call. Alpacas will spit at each other to protest if they are frightened or mistreated.

Diet

  • The only thing alpacas eat is grass. Domesticated herds in their native South America consume grasses from the high slopes and valleys of the Andes. Grass is scarce in many parts of the world, yet alpacas have adapted to this environment over thousands of years because they need less food than other animals of their size. 
  • Alpacas, under human care, often consume a diet consisting of both fresh grass and low-protein hay. The huacaya alpaca in the zoo eat a vegetarian diet consisting primarily of grass and other plant matter.

Reproduction

  • About 2 1/2 years of age is when male alpacas begin reproducing. Generally, females are bred for the first time between the ages of 16 and 20 months. It is possible to force an alpaca to ovulate. 
  • They don’t have menstruation; thus, they can reproduce anytime. Because of this, artificial insemination is impossible because ovulation can only be induced through the physical act of breeding.
  • Responsible breeders when planning birthing schedules consider environmental factors, including pasture and weather conditions. A single infant (cria) is born after a gestation period of 335 days, and birth typically occurs during the day when the mother is standing. 
  • Crias are abnormally huge for animals whose mothers weigh an average of 120 to 140 pounds.
  • Babies usually weigh between 16 and 22 pounds at birth. Baby alpacas aren’t just big; they expand quickly, too. A healthy diet is essential for mothers to raise a cria, which can weigh more than 100 pounds by its first birthday. After about six months of age, crias are typically weaned from their mother’s milk.

Alpaca Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Alpaca across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Alpaca, a domesticated mammal that has thick, soft fleece used for wool and is native to South America.

alpaca worksheets: jumble solver
alpaca worksheets: four-legged fluff
alpaca worksheets: word search

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  • Alpaca Facts
  • Jumble Solver
  • Four-legged Fluff
  • FAQ’s
  • Word Search
  • Which One?
  • Camelidae
  • Alpaca Breed
  • The Alpaca
  • Draw It
  • Furry Friend

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an alpaca?

An alpaca is a domesticated mammal in the camelid family, native to South America. They are known for their soft, warm and lightweight wool, which is used to make clothing and other textile products.

What do alpacas look like?

Alpacas are quadrupedal animals with long necks and legs, and a short, fluffy tail. They have a distinct head shape with large, expressive eyes and long, straight ears. They come in a variety of colors including white, black, brown and gray.

What do alpacas eat?

Alpacas are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of grasses, hay and other vegetation such as clover, alfalfa and timothy. They also need access to fresh water.

How are alpacas used?

Alpacas are primarily raised for their wool, which is used to make clothing, blankets, and other textile products. They are also used for meat and as pack animals. They are also used for breeding, petting zoos and as therapy animals.

Are Alpacas endangered?

No, Alpacas are not considered endangered. They are considered to be domesticated animals and their population is considered to be stable and increasing. According to the FAO, as of 2021, there were around 3.5 million Alpacas worldwide, mostly in South America.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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