Alpaca vs. Llama: 8 Differences and How to Tell Them Apart

Alpaca vs. llama: the quickest way to tell them apart is size and ears. A llama is about twice as big as an alpaca. It stands near 45 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 450 pounds. An alpaca stands about 36 inches and weighs 100 to 175 pounds. Llamas have long, curved ears shaped like bananas. Alpacas have short, pointed ears. The two are close cousins from the Andes in South America, but people bred them for different jobs. Alpacas were bred for soft fleece. Llamas were bred to carry packs, and today many work as guard animals. That is why they also differ in coat, face, and personality. Below are the 8 differences that matter most, with a side-by-side table.

In this article

• 1. Which is bigger, an alpaca or a llama?
• 2. How do their ears look different?
• 3. How do their faces compare?
• 4. Whose fleece is softer?
• 5. What jobs were they bred for?
• 6. Which one is calmer?
• 7. Which one spits more?
• 8. Which one lives longer?
• Alpaca vs. llama at a glance
• Frequently asked questions

1. Which Is Bigger, an Alpaca or a Llama?

The llama is the big one. The Rutgers 4-H animal science program lists llamas at about 45 inches tall at the shoulder and 280 to 450 pounds. Alpacas come in at about 36 inches and 100 to 175 pounds. So a grown llama can weigh two to three times as much as an alpaca.

Standing next to one helps too. You can often look right over an alpaca's back. A llama's head, held high on its long neck, is often at or above your own eye level.

2. How Do Their Ears Look Different?

Ears are the easiest clue in a photo. Llama ears are long and curve inward at the tips, a lot like a banana. Alpaca ears are short and straight, shaped more like a spear or a pear. If you can only see the head, check the ears first.

3. How Do Their Faces Compare?

An alpaca has a short, blunt face. Most have fluffy fleece on the cheeks and top of the head, which gives them that teddy bear look. A llama has a longer snout, and its face is usually smooth, with short hair instead of fluff.

4. Whose Fleece Is Softer? The Alpaca vs. Llama Coat

Alpacas win on softness. People have bred them for fleece for thousands of years. Their coat has very few stiff "guard hairs," so it feels fine and soft. Alpaca fleece also comes in many natural colors, from white to fawn to black.

Llamas have a double coat. A soft undercoat sits under a layer of coarse guard hairs. Llama fiber is still used, but it is rougher, so it often goes into rugs and rope instead of sweaters. Both animals are shorn about once a year, which keeps them cool in warm weather.

Alpaca vs. sheep's wool

Alpaca fleece has no lanolin, the greasy wax in sheep's wool. Many people find it less itchy for that reason. If you like farm animal facts, see how sheep stack up in our post on whether sheep are smart.

5. What Jobs Were They Bred For?

Both came from wild cousins that still live in South America. Alpacas came from the small, fine-coated vicuña. Llamas came from the larger guanaco. People in the Andes tamed them roughly 5,000 to 6,000 years ago.

Llamas were the trucks of the mountains. University of California extension experts say a llama can carry about 70 to 120 pounds. They also note that llamas older than 18 months can guard sheep and goats against coyotes and dogs. Alpacas are too small for packing or guarding. Their job was, and still is, growing fleece.

6. Which One Is Calmer, an Alpaca or a Llama?

It depends on what you mean by calm. Alpacas are shy and gentle. They like to stay close to their herd and often back away from people at first. Llamas are bolder and more independent. They tend to walk up to new things to check them out, which is part of what makes them good guards.

Both need friends of their own kind

Both are herd animals. Camelid experts advise that neither should live alone, since a single alpaca or llama can become stressed. Most keepers and sanctuaries keep at least two together. If you want to meet some in person, our guide to telling a real sanctuary from a petting zoo can help you pick a good place to visit.

7. Which One Spits More?

Here is the surprise: both spit. Most of the time they spit at each other, not at people. It is how they settle fights over food or who is in charge. A llama or alpaca that spits at people has often been handled too much or too roughly when young. Treated well, both are usually polite around humans.

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8. Which One Lives Longer?

Their lifespans overlap a lot. Extension sources give llamas about 15 to 30 years and alpacas about 15 to 25 years. Either way, it is a long-term promise, much like owning a horse. Good food, shelter, yearly shearing, and regular vet care and toenail trims all help them reach the high end.

Alpaca vs. Llama at a Glance

Sources: Rutgers 4-H Animal Science, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Smithsonian's National Zoo. Ranges vary a little from source to source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are llamas and alpacas the same animal?

No. They are two different species in the camel family. They are close cousins, though, and both come from the Andes Mountains of South America.

Can llamas and alpacas have babies together?

Yes. A llama and an alpaca can breed. The baby is called a huarizo. Huarizos are in between in size and coat.

Are alpacas nicer than llamas?

Not really. They just act differently. Alpacas are shy and like to keep their distance. Llamas are bolder and more curious. Both are usually gentle with people when they are raised and handled well.

How can you tell an alpaca from a llama in a photo?

Look at the ears and face. Long, banana-shaped ears and a long, smooth face mean llama. Short, pointed ears and a fluffy, teddy bear face mean alpaca.

Can you keep just one alpaca or llama?

It is not a good idea. Both are herd animals and can get stressed when alone. Most experts suggest keeping at least two.

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