Alpaca or llama?
How to tell them apart
A llama is bigger than an alpaca, with a longer head and curved, banana-shaped ears. Alpacas are smaller and bred for their finer fibre.
Quick answers
They give the same 8 quick answers, so in the game it comes down to the clues below.
| Question | Alpaca | Llama |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | No, herbivore | No, herbivore |
| Dangerous? | No | No |
| Domesticated? | Yes | Yes |
| Awake when? | Daytime | Daytime |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Do people eat it? | Yes | Yes |
At a glance
| Question | Alpaca | Llama |
|---|---|---|
| Found in | South America | South America |
| Habitat | Mountains, Grassland, Farmland | Mountains, Grassland, Farmland |
| Size differs | Medium | Large |
| Length differs | – | 0.92–1.6 m |
| Weight differs | – | 130–155 kg |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Wool | Wool |
| Lives | In herds | In herds |
| Lives for differs | 15–20 years | 15–25 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Alpaca
A domesticated South American camelid bred for its highly valued fibre, descended from the wild vicuña at least 5,000–6,000 years ago. It is smaller than its relative the llama.
Llama
A domesticated South American camelid, used by Andean cultures for meat and as a pack animal since before Columbus. Llamas are social herd animals and are also used as livestock guardians.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.