ALPACAS (VICUGNA PACOS)
Appearance
Alpacas, in my opinion, are very ugly creatures. What makes them ugly is their soft fleece. Although it looks ugly, the fleece is extremely soft, and highly valued. The colors of their fleece can range from pitch black to white, including brown. They kind of look like a small llama. Alpacas have hooves like a pig and they spit like llamas. A fully grown alpaca weighs about 48-84kgs and is 81-99cm tall.
Habitat
Alpacas originate from Peru. They are thought to be domesticated by the Indians of the Andes Mountains. They live in the high mountain foot hills. Now wild Alpacas can be found all over South America in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile. Because they are known for their soft fleece, they have been imported all over the world into alpaca farms. Alpaca farms can be found in the U.S, U.K, and Australia. They can also be kept as pets.
Diet …show more content…
They are grazing mammals, which are kept in herds, and can graze all year as long as they are approximately 3,500-5,000 meters above sea level. Contained alpacas eat grass along with hay and commercial grain. Like every other animal, alpacas need water. Dangers/Threats To Them There are many plants that are poisonous to the alpaca. A few include arrow grass, calla lilies, and daisies. Alpacas are prey to carnivorous predators, such as bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and other animals in the Andes Mountains. Alpacas can be subject to many different types of parasites, both internal and external. Some of these include, whip worm, Tape worm, Stomach worm, Nematodirus, and Lice. From Them to Us Alpacas spit a green stomach acid at predators in an attempt to protect themselves. Alongside the spitting they can put out a pretty powerful kick.
Breeds
There are two breeds of alpacas: -The Suri alpaca has silky, pencil like fleece that drapes down their bodies. The fleece has no crimps in it and is shaved about every two
Appearance
Alpacas, in my opinion, are very ugly creatures. What makes them ugly is their soft fleece. Although it looks ugly, the fleece is extremely soft, and highly valued. The colors of their fleece can range from pitch black to white, including brown. They kind of look like a small llama. Alpacas have hooves like a pig and they spit like llamas. A fully grown alpaca weighs about 48-84kgs and is 81-99cm tall.
Habitat
Alpacas originate from Peru. They are thought to be domesticated by the Indians of the Andes Mountains. They live in the high mountain foot hills. Now wild Alpacas can be found all over South America in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile. Because they are known for their soft fleece, they have been imported all over the world into alpaca farms. Alpaca farms can be found in the U.S, U.K, and Australia. They can also be kept as pets.
Diet …show more content…
They are grazing mammals, which are kept in herds, and can graze all year as long as they are approximately 3,500-5,000 meters above sea level. Contained alpacas eat grass along with hay and commercial grain. Like every other animal, alpacas need water. Dangers/Threats To Them There are many plants that are poisonous to the alpaca. A few include arrow grass, calla lilies, and daisies. Alpacas are prey to carnivorous predators, such as bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and other animals in the Andes Mountains. Alpacas can be subject to many different types of parasites, both internal and external. Some of these include, whip worm, Tape worm, Stomach worm, Nematodirus, and Lice. From Them to Us Alpacas spit a green stomach acid at predators in an attempt to protect themselves. Alongside the spitting they can put out a pretty powerful kick.
Breeds
There are two breeds of alpacas: -The Suri alpaca has silky, pencil like fleece that drapes down their bodies. The fleece has no crimps in it and is shaved about every two