Robin & Michael Shatzkin
516-379-6455
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Tell me more about alpacas, please...
Physical Characteristics:
- Two kinds of Alpacas: Huacaya (wah-KI'-ya) and Suri (surrey)
- Huacaya fiber is short dense, crimpy and gives a woolly appearance Suri fiber is silky and resembles pencil-like locks
- Alpacas have a short and low set tail
- They have soft padded feet with two toes
- Alpacas have no horns, hooves, claws or incisors
- They eat grass and chew cud
- Adult alpacas generally weigh between 150 and 200 lbs and have an average height of 36 inches at the withers
- Alpacas have three stomachs
- They are adaptable to any climate
History:
- Alpacas are members of the Camelid family
- They are native to the Andean Mountain Range of South America and are primarily found in Peru, Bolivia and Chile
- Alpacas provided clothing and transportation to the Incas
- They were first commerically imported into the United States in 1984
- There are currently over 150,000 registered alpacas in the U.S.
Reproduction:
- An alpaca's gestation period is 11.5 months
- Baby alpacas are called cria. The female normally gives birth, without assistance, in the daylight hours
- The average lifespan is about 20 years
- Alpacas have single births
