Llama, << LAH muh, >> is the largest South American member of the camel family. Like its smaller relative, the alpaca, the llama is a domesticated animal that may be descended from the guanaco. The vicuna is the llama’s only other wild relative.
The llama has no hump, and measures about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall at the shoulder. Its thick, long hair may have brown, buff, gray, white, or black coloring. A female llama bears one young at a time. A baby llama is called a cria << KREE ah. >>
Llamas prove most useful to people as pack animals. They usually can carry about 130 pounds (60 kilograms) each, and are sure-footed on mountain trails. They can travel from 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 kilometers) a day with a full load. If a llama feels its pack is too heavy, or if it thinks it has worked hard enough, it will lie down and refuse to move. When the llama is angry or under attack, it spits bad-smelling saliva in its enemy’s face.
Native Americans of South America’s Andes Mountains have long used llamas to transport goods. They also eat the meat of young llamas. In addition, they use the hair of the llama to make garments, and they use the animal’s hide to make sandals. In the United States and Canada, llamas sometimes are used as pack animals and are raised for their wool.
The llama is inexpensive to keep. A hardy animal, it eats grasses and low shrubs that grow on high mountains. The llama does not need to drink much water. It can get much of the moisture it needs from plants.
