The llama belongs to an interesting genus of mammals and is valued both as a pack animal and for its fleece, according to Llama—Britannica Online Encyclopedia. As a South American member of the camel family, the llama was probably bred from guanacos in the early times of the Inca Indians to be domestic pack animals. It is classified as a lamoid, making it closely related to the alpaca and the vincuna, as well as the aforementioned guanaco. Llamas will eat a wide variety of vegetation, have a high thirst tolerance, possess plenty of endurance, and are gentle, gregarious animals. These traits make them excellent choices for their primary occupation as pack animals. The llama’s useful fleece is regularly sheared every two years and has a coarse, wavy texture that makes it inferior to the wool of the alpaca. Used for everything from rope to rugs, it comes mostly in shades of brown, but can also be black or white.
