Llama

Llamas are close relatives of the alpaca and are also native to the Andes Mountains of South America, but they are notably larger, standing taller and weighing considerably more than a typical alpaca.

Historically, llamas were bred and used primarily as pack animals in the Andes, capable of carrying significant loads over difficult mountain terrain, while alpacas were bred mainly for their fiber.

Llamas are intelligent, alert, and protective by nature. In some parts of the world they are still used to guard herds of sheep or goats because of their natural wariness of unfamiliar animals.

Llamas are well known for spitting, which is often misunderstood. Spitting is primarily a way llamas communicate frustration with each other, over food or social rank, for example, rather than a typical reaction toward calm, respectful visitors.