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Llama Facts & Worksheets

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.

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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 llamas, or you can download our 24-page Llama worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Introducing the Gentle Llama

Llamas are described as shy, curious, and gentle. They are also said to have common sense. They are mammals with long necks, thick fur, and stubby tails. Their faces resemble a camel’s as they have rounded muzzles and a split upper lip. Their color ranges from beige to brown or even red and can be either patterned or plain.

Origins

  • Llamas are Camelidae, and their botanical name is lama glama.
  • They are part of the camel family, and the other members of this family are the alpaca, guanaco, and vicuna.
  • While llamas are raised to be used as pack animals and guards, alpacas are raised mainly for their soft wool.
  • The llama’s wild relatives, the vicuña and the guanaco have never been domesticated.
  • Camelids originally inhabited North America before they migrated to South America about three million years ago.
  • Domestication of llamas started in the Andes Mountains of Peru 4,000 to 5,000 years ago.
  • In the 1800s, llamas were imported to the United States primarily as zoo animals.
  • They were then bred for meat and wool and quickly became accepted as guard animals protecting livestock.
  • Domesticated llamas are bred on ranches and farms, while wild llamas are found in grasslands, mountains, and deserts.
  • Llamas are not endangered animals despite being used in many ways by humans.

Physical Features

  • Llamas are fairly large mammals that can reach a height of 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m).
  • Adults will weigh 287 – 600 lb (130 – 272 kg).
  • At birth, a baby llama will weigh between 20 – 31 lb (9 – 14 kg). 
  • Llamas have long faces with big nostrils and large, pointed, inward-facing ears.
  • Llamas detect danger using their sharp senses of sight, hearing, and smell.
  • Their feet have two toenails and a leathery, soft pad.
  • The Ccara are short-coated llamas, while the Cucara are medium-coated llamas.
  • Llamas typically live for 15 to 25 years, with some individuals surviving 30 years or more.
  • Presently the llama population in the US is over 165,000.

Characteristics

  • Llamas are described as smart animals who can be taught simple commands.
  • They can also be stubborn and are known to lie down and refuse to move if the load placed on their back is deemed too heavy.
  • They are very alert creatures and have proven to make good guard animals. 
  • When alarmed or scared, their defense mechanism is to make loud sounds and kick intruders.
  • The sounds llamas make can range from a gentle hum to a sharp alarming scream.
  • Farmers use “guard llamas” to protect sheep and other livestock and also to herd sheep.
  • Llamas can endure harsh conditions and environments, so they have been used for centuries as pack animals to transport goods in rough terrains. They can carry loads above 50 lb (22 kg) and can cover 20 miles (32 km) a day. Hundreds of llamas are used to form trains and move large quantities of goods over the very rough terrain of the Andes.
  • Their thick wool and hide make them well-suited to extreme temperatures.
  • The feces of llamas can be dried and burned as fuel or used as fertilizer.
  • Llamas can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.

Diet

  • Llamas are herbivores, meaning they eat only plants, happily munching on ferns, hay, and grass and eating up to 6 pounds of plant matter daily.
  • They must chew for a long time before swallowing and digesting their food.
  • They also require a good supply of water daily, especially in hot weather.

Reproduction

  • Female llamas reach puberty at about 12 months old, while males do not become sexually mature until around the age of three.
  • Mature males are called studs in English or machos in Spanish, mature females are called hembras in Spanish or dams, and a baby llama is called a cria, the Spanish word for baby.
  • Llamas don’t have a definite mating season, so they will mate any time of the year. The male will chase after a female until she accepts his advances.
  • Gestation, the carrying of an offspring, is about 11.5 months (350 days), with only one young born with each pregnancy.
  • A group of llamas usually surrounds a female giving birth to protect the baby from potential predators.
  • Mothers do not lick their babies clean as they have an attached tongue that does not reach more than 1⁄2 in (13 mm) outside of the mouth. Instead, they will nuzzle and hum to their newborns.
  • Within an hour, the newborn will stand and suckle.
  • Weaning occurs gradually between 6 and 10 months. 

Llama Produce

  • The use of llama wool in textiles dates back to 6,000 years ago in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
  • Llama wool varies in color from white to gray to brown to black and can be patterned or plain.
  • It is soft, light, water-repellent, and almost free of lanolin, the fatty substance found on sheep’s wool.
  • The llamas’ outer coat is rougher than the inner coat and is used to make sturdy ropes and rugs.
  • Yarn made from inner llama wool is soft and warm and used for garments/clothing and craftwork.
  • Llama leather is used mainly in the fashion industry for jackets, handbags, shoes, purses, and wallets.
  • Llama meat is versatile and eaten widely, and although llamas produce very little milk, it makes excellent cheese.

Interesting Llama Facts

  • Llamas were a symbol of wealth in ancient Incan civilizations.
  • The llama is Peru’s national symbol and is found on some of Peru’s stamps and coins.
  • The meat of llamas is eaten in some cultures and communities.
  • Llamas are sometimes mistaken for alpacas, but there are two distinct differences. Llamas are twice as big as alpacas, and llamas have much longer ears.
  • Llama treks are offered at Pinetum Farm Llamas, Massachusetts.
  • 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 are social animals, often moving in groups called herds. 
  • There is a social order in a herd that 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 and communicate using body gestures and humming sounds.

Llama Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about llamas across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Llama worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about llamas, 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

Frequently Asked Questions

Are llamas and alpacas the same?

Both species are found primarily in Bolivia and Peru and are part of the camel family. The biggest difference between llamas and alpacas is their size and their coats. Llamas have a coarse wool coat, whereas an alpaca has longer, finer hair.

How did the llama get its name?

Apparently, when the Spanish discovered South America, they pointed to a strange creature and asked Cómo se llama? In English, this translates to “What do you call this?” The indigenous people did not understand the word llama and kept repeating it. The Spanish thought the animal’s name was llama, and it stuck.

Do people eat llama meat?

Yes, plenty of llama meat is consumed. Llama meat is lean and can be prepared in many ways. It can be grilled, pan-fried, used in stews, or dried and eaten as llama jerky, known as charki. 

What are llamas bred for?

Llamas are bred commercially in the United States and used mainly as livestock guardians, protecting sheep, goats, and other livestock from predators. They are also raised as companion animals and show animals. They also provide food, wool, and fertilizer. 

Can you drink llama milk?

Llama milk has been drunk for centuries; however, llamas are hard to milk as they have very small teats. Their milk is rich in fats which makes it good for cheesemaking, and the cheese keeps for a long time.

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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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