Llama is a cute animal that is native to South America.
Llama is a wonderful animal that lives in South America but is loved worldwide. Let’s find out more about it!
- The llamas belong in the family of camelids.
- During the Ice Age, camelids went extinct in North America.
- As animals, they are related to camels.
- Right now they are native to South America, where they live.
- But they are originated from North America.
- Actually they appeared 40 million years ago, so they are pretty old!
- 3 million years ago they migrated to South America once and for all!
- Llamas are domesticated animals.
- They are also used as pack animals, just like camels!
- They were used as domesticated and pack animals 4,000 to 5,000 years ago.
- This happened in the Peruvian mountains.
- In the Andes Mountains of Peru, llama fleece has been shorn and used in textiles.
- This technique isn’t recent, but it is happening for about 6,000 years.
- Llama wool is light, warm, water-repellent, and free of lanolin.
- They can carry 25 to 30% of their body weight.
- But if you try to overweight a llama, it will react.
- More specifically it will lay down or it will not move.
- Llamas are perfect for harsh environments.
- Llamas are very smart.
- They can distinguish the dangerous from the safe animals.
- So, they can protect you.
- They communicate in many ways and one of the ways llamas communicate is by humming.
- In general, llamas are very social.
- But this is not something that they keep for themselves as they can ‘adopt’ a group of sheep or goats as their own herd.
- They are considered somehow diabetic.
- According to a study, their metabolism of llamas is very similar to that of a human diabetic.
- The spit or stick out their tongue when they feel annoyed by something.
- Llamas are herbivores.
- Their digestive system is… very good!
- This is no surprise since they have 3 stomachs!
- A baby llama is called “cria”.
- An average llama can live up to 20 tears.
- The current population of llamas and alpacas in South America is estimated to be more than 7 million.
- Llamas look a lot like their “friends” alpacas.
- But llamas are generally about twice the size of alpacas.
- Also, alpacas have short, pointy ears.
- Llamas can swim, but they will do it only if they need to.
- In general, llamas can bite each other in order to show which one is the “dominant” one.
- But don’t worry because almost never they bite humans!
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