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Llama Facts & Worksheets

The llama is a South American member of the camelidae family.

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The llama is a South American member of the camelidae family. It is a relative of the camel and looks very similar to it except that it does not have a hump. Its scientific name is Lama glama.

See the fact file below for more information on the llama or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Llama worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Origins

  • Camelids originally inhabited North America before they migrated to South America about three million years ago.
  • They are mostly found in South America, but today they are found all over the world.
  • Domestication of llamas started in the Andes Mountains of Peru about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago.
  • The llama’s wild relatives – the vicuña and the guanaco – have never been domesticated.
  • Domesticated llamas are found in ranches and farms, but wild llamas are found in grasslands, mountains, and deserts.
  • Llamas are not endangered animals despite being used in many ways by humans.
  • In the 1800s, llamas were imported to the United States primarily as zoo animals.

Physical Features

  • Llamas are big mammals. They grow up to 6 feet in height.
  • They weigh between 280 to 450 pounds and are able to carry a quarter of their weight.
  • Llamas have a long face, long inward-facing ears, and big nostrils.
  • Llamas can detect danger using their sharp senses of sight, hearing, and smell.
  • A llama doesn’t have hoofs like sheep. Each of its foot has two toenails and a leathery, soft pad underneath.
  • The two classifications of llamas according to their fur length are the Ccara and the Cucara.
  • The Ccara are the short coated llamas while the Cucara are the medium coated llamas.

Characteristics

  • Llamas are very alert creatures so they make good guard animals.
  • Farmers use “guard llamas” to protect sheep and other animals.
  • Their defense mechanism is to make loud sounds and kick intruders away.
  • The sounds llamas make can be anywhere from a hum to a sharp alarm.
  • They may also herd the sheep into a group.
  • Llamas are smart animals, but they can also be very stubborn.
  • A llama will lie down and refuse to carry a very heavy load until it is lifted from its back.
  • They can also be taught simple commands.
  • Llamas can endure harsh conditions in their environment. so they’re often used to transport goods.
  • Their thick wool and hide makes them well-suited to extreme temperatures.
  • The feces of llamas can be dried and burned as fuel or fertilizer.
  • Llamas can run at a pace of up to 35 miles per hour.

Diet

  • Llamas are herbivores which mean they eat only plants, such as ferns, hay, and grass.
  • A llama can eat up to 6 pounds of hay in a single day.
  • They chew for a long time before they swallow and digest their food.
  • They don’t need much water, which makes them perfect to live in the mountains.

Herds

  • Llamas don’t bite but they tend to spit when they get angry or are provoked. They mostly spit at each other, but they are known to sometimes spit at humans too.
  • Llamas often move in groups because they’re social animals.
  • A group of llamas is called a herd.
  • There is a social order in a herd which llamas literally fight over.
  • They kick, spit, and wrestle to establish dominance in the herd.
  • Despite their competitive nature, they are also very protective of each other.
  • Llamas communicate with each other using body gestures.

Reproduction

  • Llamas don’t have a definite mating season.
  • Male and female llamas mate anytime, but it’s the male llama that chases after the female for a few minutes until the female accepts his advances.
  • Female llamas carry their offspring for 11 and a half months.
  • A female llama gives birth to one baby at a time.
  • A group of llamas usually surrounds a female llama giving birth to protect the baby from potential predators.
  • A baby llama is called a cria, which is a Spanish word for baby.
  • At birth, a llama usually weighs 20 to 30 pounds.
  • It only takes an hour after birth before a baby llama can stand up and walk on its own.
  • Llamas usually live between 20 to 30 years.

Llama Wool

  • Llama wool used in textiles dates back to 6,000 years ago in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
  • Llama wool can be white, black, gray, or brown.
  • It can be patterned or plain.
  • It is used as fabric for clothing and other craftwork.
  • Their wool is soft, light, water-repellent, and free of lanolin, the fatty substance found on sheep’s wool.
  • The outer coat of their wool, which is rougher than the inner coat, is used to make ropes and rugs.
  • Yarn made from llama wool is soft and warm.
  • The leathery hides (skin) of llamas can also be turned into leather goods.

Other Facts

  • The llama is Peru’s national symbol.
  • It is found on some of Peru’s stamps and coins.
  • Llamas were a symbol of wealth in ancient Incan civilizations.
  • The dead are buried with llama statuettes.
  • The meat of llamas is also eaten in some cultures and communities.
  • Llamas can be mistaken for alpacas, but two distinct differences are that llamas are twice as big as alpacas and llamas have longer ears.
  • You can go on a llama trek at Pinetum Farm Llamas, Massachusetts.

Llama Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about llama across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Llama worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the llama which is a South American member of the camelidae family. It is a relative of the camel and looks very similar to it except that it does not have a hump. Its scientific name is Lama glama.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Llama Facts
  • Draw A Llama
  • Parts of a Llama
  • Llama Word Hunt
  • Useful Wool
  • True or False
  • Giving Birth
  • We Are Family
  • Peruvian Lands
  • Llama Relatives
  • Llama On Video

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Link will appear as Llama Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 5, 2018

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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