Alpaca

Alpaca are woolly mammals related to camels and llamas. These herding animals
live in the western South America in grasslands and scrub at altitudes from 12,800
to 15,000 feet . Young alpaca are called crias.

Alpacas have a life span of about 15 - 20+ years. Some alpacas make a humming
sound; whining, grumbling, clucking, and other assorted sounds are used by alpacas
to communicate. Spitting is used by alpacas, probably as a sign of dominance, fear,
or warning.

Physical description The alpaca has a relatively small head, a cleft (split) upper
lip, a long neck, and large, pointed ears. The tail is short. Alpacas have long, thick,
very soft hair that ranges in color from white to gray to brown to black. Alpaca have
two-toed feet with toenails on the top and with pads on the bottom; they do not
have hooves. The average adult alpaca weighs about 120-140 pounds and is 3-3.5
feet tall at the shoulders.

Diet: Alpaca are herbivores (plant-eaters). They eat mostly grasses, herbs, and
other plant material. Alpaca are ruminants and have a three-part stomach. They
partially chew their food.

Enemies: Pumas and other large carnivores (meat-eaters) prey on the alpaca.
Classification: Class mammals.