Llama Flashcards
How many toes do llamas have?
Two.
Are llamas ruminants?
No. They are pseudoruminants.
How much do llamas weigh?
Between 250 and 450 pounds
How tall are llamas?
5 to 6.5 feet
Llamas will breed in two seasons, what are they?
Winter and spring.
What is the gestation period of the llama?
Around one year.
What is a baby llama called?
A cria.
How many months is it before crias are weaned?
Four.
How old are llamas when they are sexually mature?
1 1/2 to 2 years.
How long do llamas live?
Wild: 15 years
Captivity: 20 years
What is the range and habitat of the llama?
Domesticated, but also found in the grassy alpine regions of the Andes.
How high can llamas be found?
Over 7,000 feet
What do llamas eat?
Grasses, leaves, and hay.
Are llamas social?
Yes.
How do llamas communicate?
Ear positions, spitting, humming, and body language.
True or false? Llamas are not very intelligent.
False. They are intelligent and have excellent memory.
What is the most common reason a llama will spit at another llama?
To let them know it is time to eat.
True or false? Llamas set aside areas to defecate.
True.
How many layers does a llama’s coat have?
Two.
Describe the two coats of a llama.
The outer coat is extremely thick and course, while the inner coat is finer.
Why do llamas have thinner hair on the legs and abdomen?
To allow them to regulate temperature.
What allow llamas to navigate rocky and tough terrain with ease?
Strong legs and broad hooves.
Describe the pads on a llama’s foot.
They are calloused and elastic.
What is interesting and unique about the red blood cells of the llama?
They last twice as long as ordinary red blood cells and are oval in shape.
True or false? Llamas have a very high red blood cell count.
True.
What is interesting about the llama’s upper lip?
It is split, allowing it to use it like fingers.
What are llamas used for in captivity?
They are used like guard animals to protect herds from predators. They are also harvested for meat, leather, and wool, as well as being pack animals.
How much can a llama carry?
30% of its body weight.
True or false? A llama is stronger than a horse.
True.
Where did llamas originate and how long ago?
40 million years ago in North America
How long ago did llamas migrate to South America?
3 million years ago. (Great American interchange)
How many llamas and alpacas are there in North America?
Over 250,000
How many llamas are in South America?
7 million
What are the purely wild cousins of the llama and alpaca called?
Guanacos and vicuñas
True or false? Llamas are copulation induced ovulators.
True.
What is an induced ovulator?
An animal that ovulates as a result of external stimulus.
How long does it take a llama to give birth?
About 30 minutes or less
What is a female llama called?
A dam.
Why can’t llamas lick things?
Their tongue is heavily attached and only extends about 1/2 an inch outside its mouth.
Why should a llama only be trained using a lead after being weaned?
Llamas that are bottle-fed are usually aggressive. They treat people like they would treat another llama.
Why are multiple guard llamas not advised?
Multiple llamas will bond with each other, especially if they are male, and will sometimes ignore the flock.
What did the Incas often bury with their dead?
Llama figures.
True or false? One of the Incan gods was a multicolored llama.
True.
What are some of the differences between llamas and alpacas?
Llamas are much larger, llamas have course fleece while the fleece of an alpaca is soft, alpacas are timid and llamas are brave, alpacas have shorter and straighter ears.
