39 facts about llamas!

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!

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