Camelids
Around 35 million years ago these creatures evolved to be about goat size and were named Probrotherium. The remains of these Camelids were primarily found in North America. Then, about 2 to 3 million years ago the Camelid population moved to South America, Africa, and South-West Asia. Fossils indicate a larger variety of this species than modern day animals. Camelids of today consist of 5 basic types. Camelids are known for their long necks. They are strictly herbivorous. Camelids have a three chambered stomach. They are known for a split upper lip where each side is seperately mobil. Camelids do not have hoofs. They have a two toed foot with toenails and a soft footpad. CamelsThe Camel is the largest member of the modern day Camelid family. The Arabian Camel is know for the single hump on its back. The Bactiran Camel of Asia has two humps.The average life expectancy of the Camel if forty to fifty years. The fully grown adult Camel is about six foot one inch at the shoulder and seven foot one inch at the hump. Camels can run up to forty miles per hour. They are used for milk and meat and are considered beasts of burden. A Camel can be ridden and is used as a pack animal. Camels have a thick fiber coat that reflects sunlight and insulates them from extreme heat and cold. Camels are not shorn. Fiber is collected when it falls off in the spring. LlamaThe next largest of the Camelid species is the Llama. Llamas are abundant in South America and have been exported all over the world.The Llama is between 5 foot 5 inches to 6 foot tall at the top of the head. They weigh between 280 and 450 pounds. A baby Llama weighs 20 to 30 pounds. Llamas are very social animals and live in a herd. They are very intelligent and can learn tasks after several repetitions. Llamas can be used as pack animals. They are also used as gaurd animals mostly for sheep. Llamas have two coats of fiber. The undercoat is soft, lanolin free and used for clothing. The outer or gaurd coat is rougher and used for rugs. A single fleece comes in many colors. They are shorn in the spring.
AlpacaThe Alpaca is also included in the Camelid species. They resemble the Llama but are much smaller in size. The full grown alpaca is about 36 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 100 and 200 pounds. A baby alpaca weighs between 10 and 20 pounds.Alpacas are also social animals and live in a herd. An alpaca is intelligent and can be trained very easily. Alpacas are not used as pack animals or gaurd animals but are valued for their fleece/fiber. Alpaca fleece is much finer than that of the Llama or Camel and contains no outer gaurd hairs. Alpaca fleece has been described as being as fine as cashmere. This fiber is also Lanolin free and comes in 52 natural colors. Alpaca meat was once considered a delicacy by the Andean Culture. Today it is illegal to slaughter or trade alpaca meat. Alpacas are a prey animal and thus are very cautious and feel nervous if the sense any threat. They are also very curious and will investigate and run towards things they do not understand. This usually scares away most predators. GuanacoThe Guanaco is included next in the Camelid family. The Guanaco is found naturally in South America and at this time is illegal to export.Guanaco dimensions are similar to the alpaca. A Guanaco can weigh up to 200 pounds and stands 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall at the shoulders. The Guanaco has a grey face and small straight ears. Body fleece color varies little from light brown to dark cinnamon. It is thought that the Guanaco is a wild variation of the Llama. Guanacos live in large herds of around 10 females and their babies with 1 dominant male. Bachelor males live in seperate larger herds of about 50. Guanacos are a prey animal and can run up to 35 miles per hour to escape capture. They are also excellent swimmers. Guanacos have a very thick skin on their necks for protection from attack. This "skin" is often used to make shoes by local people. Like the Llama, a Guanaco has a double fleece. The fine inner fleece is extremely soft and second only to the Vicuna. Gaurd fleece is used to make rugs.
VicunaThe Vicuna is also a wild Camelid species native to South America. Vicunas produce small quantities of extremely fine fiber. Supply is very limited as they can only be shorn once every three years. It is against the law to shear a Vicuna unless the fiber is 2 1/2 inches in length.Vicuna fiber is considered finer than any other fiber in the world. It is sensitive to chemicals so it is never dyed. Vicuna fleece comes in only one color, a tawny brown. A Vicuna is white only on the throat and chest. Vicunas were declared an endangered species in 1974 and are now protected by the government. The Vicuna stands about three foot at the shoulder and weighs about 150 pounds. Their head is shorter than the Guanaco and their ears are longer. Vicunas also live in herds of about 15 females and their babies with 1 dominant male. It is thought that the Vicuna is a wild variation of the alpaca South America , Europe , Registry , Information About Alpacas , |
Camelids are from the biological family Camelidae. They first appeared early in evolution around 45 million years ago. The earliest member of this species was the rabbit sized Protlopus.