All About Llamas
Presented by
Dr. William Jurgelski
USDA licensed Breeder of Camelids
Lost World Ranch
The llama is a member of the lamoid group of animals which, in addition, includes the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicuna. The four lamoids and the camels together constitute a larger group called camelids.
The ancestral stock of the camelids evolved in North America about 40-50 million years ago. About 3 million years ago the camel line crossed the Bering Strait into Asia where it evolved into the one humped (dromedary) and the two humped (bactrian) camels.
The lamoid line at about the same time entered South America over a transient land bridge evolving into guanacos, alpacas and vicunas. The llama was probably derived from the guanaco through domestication.
The evolutionary closeness of the five camelids despite their often striking physical differences is supported by the fact that all five have the same chromosome number (37) and will interbreed either spontaneously or by artificial insemination.
Llamas are adapted to the high plateaus of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru where they were domesticated 6000 years ago by the Inca who bred them for wool and used them for food, fuel, clothing, and transport. In this country, llamas are used as pets, show or hobby animals, pack animals and to pull carriages. Gelded male llamas are excellent guard animals for young livestock particularly against attacks by coyotes or dogs. Unlike guard dogs, guard llamas require no care beyond that required for their herd. Llamas are also being used as caddies on several golf courses in the USA.
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