The llama ( Lama glama ) is a South American domestic livestock species that descended from the guanaco. Primarily used as a pack animal, it belongs to the camel family, Camelidae. Llama herds are mainly in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina. Llamas are the largest of the four lamoid species, averaging 120 cm at the shoulder. Males weigh 136 to 181.4 kg, while females weigh 104.3 to 158.7 kg. They are slender-bodied animals with long legs and necks, short tails, small heads, and large pointed ears. These gentle creatures are known for their high thirst tolerance and ability to survive on various forages, making them important transport animals in the Andean plateaus and mountains. When overloaded or mistreated, they may lie down, spit, kick, or refuse to move.

Where do llamas originally come from?

Llamas are South American members of the camel family and descendants of guanacos. They are mainly found in Peru and Bolivia. These animals have served humans for thousands of years as pack animals and for fleece production. Llamas are the largest of the four lamoid species, standing around 120 cm at the shoulder and weighing about 113 kg. They are known for their ability to carry heavy loads, with an average llama capable of carrying 45 to 60 kg for up to 30 km daily. Though generally gentle, llamas may spit, kick, or refuse to move if overloaded or mistreated.

What do llamas look like?

The llama ( Lama glama ) is a South American domestic livestock species and a member of the camel family Camelidae . Llamas are slender-bodied animals that do not have humps. They have long legs and necks, short tails, small heads, and large, pointed ears. Llamas are the largest of the four lamoid species. At the shoulder, they average 120 cm (47 inches) in height. Males typically weigh between 136 and 181.4 kg (300 and 400 pounds), while females weigh between 104.3 and 158.7 kg (230 and 350 pounds). Although usually white, llamas can be solid black or brown, or white with black or brown markings.

How are llamas used by people?

People have used llamas for thousands of years for transportation and fleece production. Primarily pack animals, llamas can carry 99 to 132 pounds for up to 18.6 miles a day. They are also sources of food, wool, hides, tallow for candles, and dried dung for fuel. Llama fleece consists of coarse guard hairs and a short, crimped insulating undercoat. Llama fiber is used alone or in blends for knitwear and woven fabrics and, locally, for rugs, rope, and fabric. Llamas can serve as guard animals for livestock such as alpacas and sheep. Inca society raised llamas and alpacas, using their wool and meat. Today, the descendants of the Inca, the Quechua-speaking peoples of the Andes, continue to herd llamas and alpacas and weave textiles.

What do llamas eat and how do they live in their environment?

Llamas are South American members of the camel family that live primarily in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina. They are adapted to high altitudes, where they graze on grass and other plants. Llamas are pseudoruminants with a three-chambered stomach that helps them break down cellulose. Like ruminants, they chew their cud to aid digestion. They can subsist on various forages, which makes them important transport animals in the Andean plateaus and mountains.

How are llamas related to other animals, like alpacas and camels?

Llamas are South American members of the camel family, Camelidae. The llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco species are known as lamoids. Llamas and other lamoids don't have camel humps, but they do share traits such as slender bodies, long legs and necks, small heads, short tails, and large, pointed ears. Genetic studies show that llamas are descended from guanacos, while alpacas are descended from vicuñas. Llamas and alpacas can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Llamas are larger than alpacas, with elongated faces and banana-sized ears, while alpacas have smaller, blunt faces and short ears.

llama

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Examine how llamas serve as pack animals and wool sources in highlands of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru

World map showing the geographic ranges of camelid species, with color-coded outlines for each: alpaca, llama, guanaco, and vicuna ranges are marked in South America; Arabian camel or dromedary in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia; domesticated Bactrian camel across Central Asia; and wild Bactrian camel in a small area of East Central Asia. Australia is shaded for introduced dromedaries.

Llamas on the shore of the Colorado Lagoon, Bolivia.

World map showing the historical evolution and distribution of camels and llamas, with present-day camelid ranges shaded in orange across Africa, Asia, and South America. North America is marked as the camelid source region. Colored arrows trace migration routes: green for camel ancestors moving to Eurasia and Africa, blue for llama ancestors migrating to South America, and additional arrows indicating more recent introductions to Australia and other regions. Insets note that camelids first emer

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llama summary

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Related Topics:: What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas?; Are llamas ruminants?; pack animal; Why do llamas spit?; llama fibre

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llama

mammal

Also known as: Lama glama

Written and fact-checked by

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Last updated

Sep. 24, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is a llama?
The llama (Lama glama) is a South American domestic livestock species that descended from the guanaco. Primarily used as a pack animal, it belongs to the camel family, Camelidae. Llama herds are mainly in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina.

Llamas are the largest of the four lamoid species, averaging 120 cm at the shoulder. Males weigh 136 to 181.4 kg, while females weigh 104.3 to 158.7 kg. They are slender-bodied animals with long legs and necks, short tails, small heads, and large pointed ears.

These gentle creatures are known for their high thirst tolerance and ability to survive on various forages, making them important transport animals in the Andean plateaus and mountains. When overloaded or mistreated, they may lie down, spit, kick, or refuse to move.
2 Britannica Sources
1. llama
2. What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas?
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where do llamas originally come from?
Llamas are South American members of the camel family and descendants of guanacos. They are mainly found in Peru and Bolivia. These animals have served humans for thousands of years as pack animals and for fleece production. Llamas are the largest of the four lamoid species, standing around 120 cm at the shoulder and weighing about 113 kg. They are known for their ability to carry heavy loads, with an average llama capable of carrying 45 to 60 kg for up to 30 km daily. Though generally gentle, llamas may spit, kick, or refuse to move if overloaded or mistreated.
2 Britannica Sources
1. llama: Natural history
2. What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas?
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do llamas look like?
The llama (Lama glama) is a South American domestic livestock species and a member of the camel family Camelidae. Llamas are slender-bodied animals that do not have humps. They have long legs and necks, short tails, small heads, and large, pointed ears.

Llamas are the largest of the four lamoid species. At the shoulder, they average 120 cm (47 inches) in height. Males typically weigh between 136 and 181.4 kg (300 and 400 pounds), while females weigh between 104.3 and 158.7 kg (230 and 350 pounds). Although usually white, llamas can be solid black or brown, or white with black or brown markings.
2 Britannica Sources
1. llama
2. What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas?
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How are llamas used by people?
People have used llamas for thousands of years for transportation and fleece production. Primarily pack animals, llamas can carry 99 to 132 pounds for up to 18.6 miles a day. They are also sources of food, wool, hides, tallow for candles, and dried dung for fuel. Llama fleece consists of coarse guard hairs and a short, crimped insulating undercoat. Llama fiber is used alone or in blends for knitwear and woven fabrics and, locally, for rugs, rope, and fabric.

Llamas can serve as guard animals for livestock such as alpacas and sheep. Inca society raised llamas and alpacas, using their wool and meat. Today, the descendants of the Inca, the Quechua-speaking peoples of the Andes, continue to herd llamas and alpacas and weave textiles.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do llamas eat and how do they live in their environment?
Llamas are South American members of the camel family that live primarily in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina. They are adapted to high altitudes, where they graze on grass and other plants.

Llamas are pseudoruminants with a three-chambered stomach that helps them break down cellulose. Like ruminants, they chew their cud to aid digestion. They can subsist on various forages, which makes them important transport animals in the Andean plateaus and mountains.
6 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How are llamas related to other animals, like alpacas and camels?
Llamas are South American members of the camel family, Camelidae. The llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco species are known as lamoids. Llamas and other lamoids don't have camel humps, but they do share traits such as slender bodies, long legs and necks, small heads, short tails, and large, pointed ears.

Genetic studies show that llamas are descended from guanacos, while alpacas are descended from vicuñas. Llamas and alpacas can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Llamas are larger than alpacas, with elongated faces and banana-sized ears, while alpacas have smaller, blunt faces and short ears.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

llama, (Lama glama), domesticated livestock species, descendant of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), and one of the South American members of the camel family, Camelidae (order Artiodactyla). The llama is primarily a pack animal, but it is also used as a source of food, wool, hides, tallow for candles, and dried dung for fuel. Llama herds are found primarily in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina, and they have been exported to other countries.

Natural history

Llamas, guanacos, vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna), and alpacas (V. pacos) are known collectively as lamoids. Unlike camels, llamas and other lamoids do not have the characteristic camel humps; they are slender-bodied animals and have long legs and long necks, short tails, small heads, and large pointed ears. Gregarious animals, they graze on grass and other plants. When annoyed, they spit. Lamoids are able to interbreed with one another and produce fertile offspring.

The llama is the largest of the four lamoid species. It averages 120 cm (47 inches) at the shoulder, with most males weighing between 136 and 181.4 kg (300 and 400 pounds) and most females weighing between 104.3 and 158.7 kg (230 and 350 pounds). A 113-kg (250-pound) llama can carry a load of 45–60 kg and average 25 to 30 km (15 to 20 miles) travel a day. The llama’s high thirst tolerance, endurance, and ability to subsist on a wide variety of forage makes it an important transport animal on the bleak Andean plateaus and mountains. The llama is a gentle animal, but, when overloaded or maltreated, it will lie down, hiss, spit and kick, and refuse to move. Llamas breed in the (Southern Hemispheric) late summer and fall, from November to May. The gestation period lasts about 11 months, and the female gives birth to one young. Although usually white, the llama may be solid black or brown, or it may be white with black or brown markings.

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The llama and the alpaca are domestic animals not known to exist in the wild state. Genetic studies conducted in the early 21st century determined that llamas are descended from guanacos and alpacas are descended from vicuñas. Llamas appear to have been bred from guanacos and used as beasts of burden starting about 6,500 years ago. Most taxonomies separate llamas and guanacos into distinct species, with some authorities preferring to classify both animals as subspecies of Lama glama.

Llama fleece

Llamas are normally sheared every two years, each yielding about 3–3.5 kg (6.6–7.7 pounds) of fibre. Llama fleece consists of the coarse guard hairs of the protective outer coat (about 20 percent) and the short crimped (wavy) fibre of the insulating undercoat. The coarse fleece is inferior to the wool of the alpaca. The hair’s colour is usually variegated, generally in shades of brown, although there are some pure blacks and whites. Cleaning reduces the final yield of fleece to about 66–84 percent of the original weight. Individual locks of hair appear wavy; the fairly downy fibres have about two to four crimps per centimetre, but the coarse hairs are fairly straight. The hair’s length ranges from 8 to 25 cm (about 3.2 to 9.8 inches), the coarse hairs being longest. The difference in diameter between the coarse guard hairs and the downy fibre is not so great as it is in cashmere. Guard-hair diameter ranges from about 10 to 150 micrometres (a micrometre is about 0.00004 inch), with that of the undercoat fibre usually ranging from 10 to 20 micrometres.

The scales of the outer layer of the fibre are indistinct, and the cortical layer contains pigment, with variations in the amount and distribution, which produces the various colours and tones. All but the finest fibres are likely to possess a hollow central core, or medulla, resulting in low density, which makes the fibre fairly light in weight. Llama fibre is used, alone or in blends, for knitwear and for woven fabrics made into outerwear. It is used locally for rugs, rope, and fabric.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.

llama

Natural history

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Llama fleece