The Llama (Lama glama) belongs to the order Artiodactyla and
is a member of the family Camelidae. Native to South America
and Asia, llamas are a domesticated herd animal utilized
fore their milk, wool and meat. A mature llama can be as tall as six feet in
height and weigh as much as 450 pounds.
Llamas are similar in appearance to alpacas and camels with
strong teeth, longer ears and heavily lidded eyes. They do not have humps and
come in a variety of colors including brow, white, black and tan. Llamas are
designed for life in high altitude mountain regions and have a thick coat that
is harvested for wool.
Sexually mature at a year old, female llamas carry their
young for 11.5 months but do not clean off their young when they birth because
their tongues don't really reach outside of their mouths. Instead, the female
llamas hum to their newborn and nuzzle them. Baby llamas, or crias, are born in
less than half an hour while their mothers are standing up. The other females
of the herd circle the mother to protect from predators.
Llamas eat alfalfa and hay and need fed frequently due to
small digestive tracts. Llama farming continues to grow in popularity.