Home / Mammals / Hoofed farm and wild mammals / Alpaca
No federal permit to keepAlpaca
Vicugna pacos
Mammals › Hoofed farm and wild mammals (Artiodactyla) › Camelidae (Camels, llamas and alpacas)
The alpaca (Lama pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Maintenance dry matter intake | 1.8–2 % body mass per day Healthy nonreproductive adults; account for body condition and forage quality. | 140 |
| Maintenance forage crude protein | 10–14 % dry matter Healthy nonreproductive adults. | 140 |
| Maintenance forage total digestible nutrients | 50–55 % Healthy nonreproductive adults. | 140 |
| Pregnancy lactation total digestible nutrients | 60–65 % Higher-energy forage requirement reported by source. | 140 |
Care guide
Camels, llamas and alpacas
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Grassland, desert and mountains. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Pasture with fencing and shelter; llamas and alpacas need companions of their own kind.
- Shearing once a year for alpacas and llamas.
Sources 140
Diet
- Grass hay and pasture with camelid minerals.
Sources 140
Social life
- Herd animals; never keep one alone.
Sources 140
Health watch
- Heat stress, parasites (including meningeal worm) and berserk male syndrome in bottle-raised males.
Sources 140
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
Traditionally, alpacas were kept in herds that grazed on the level heights of the Andes of Southern Peru, Western Bolivia, Ecuador, and Northern Chile. More recently, alpacas may be found on farms and ranches worldwide, with thousands of animals born and raised annually.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Alpaca” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The alpaca (Lama pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid. Traditionally, alpacas were kept in herds that grazed on the level heights of the Andes of Southern Peru, Western Bolivia, Ecuador, and Northern Chile. More recently, alpacas may be found on farms and ranches worldwide, with thousands of animals born and raised annually. Alpacas are especially popular in North America, Europe, and Australia. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Behavior | Alpacas are social herd animals that live in family groups, consisting of a territorial alpha male, females, and their young ones. Alpacas warn the herd about intruders by making sharp, noisy inhalations that sound like a high-pitched bray. The herd may attack smaller predators with their front feet and can spit and kick. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 59°F (up to 66°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 24°F (down to 13°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 38–51°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 48–76% on average (driest month about 48%) |
| Rainfall | about 804 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
| Winters | Cool to cold winters (lows around 24°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs. |
Measured at 113 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Maximum recorded lifespan
Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Gestation
Female maturity
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- Pharmacokinetics of Orally Administered Prednisolone in Alpacas Videla R et al., Frontiers in veterinary science 2021
- Pathology of Haemonchus contortus in New World camelids in the southeastern United States: a retrospective review Edwards EE et al., Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation: official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc 2016
- Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Husbandry and Their Welfare Pilarczyk R et al., Animals: an open access journal from MDPI 2025
- Pathophysiology of penetrating captive bolt stunning in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos) Gibson TJ et al., Meat science 2015
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 48 on PubMed → 170
Sources for this sheet
- AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of llamas and alpacas Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
