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Alpacas are members of the camelid family and can be separated into two groups, the Suri, and Huacaya. Differences between them are noted in their fleece and physical appearances. The Suri¹s long fiber hangs down in ringlets, similar to dreadlocks. They have long, straight fibers with no crimp, that are extremely soft, lustrous, and silky which make them appear more angular. The Huacaya looks like a fluffy teddy bear. Its fiber is shorter, denser and has crimp (waves) making them appear more rounded.
The lifespan of an alpaca is about 20 years and gestation is 11.5 months.
Females are sexually mature between 1-3 years of age and males between 2-3 years, dependent on size and weight. Alpaca produce one cria (baby) per year that weigh approximately 17-19 pounds. Adult alpacas stand about 36² tall at the withers and weigh between 100 and 200 pounds.
Alpacas are gentle, curious, and timid herd animals. Their herding instincts require that they be in the company of other alpacas. They have a variety of ways of communicating, the most notable being a humming sound of varying tones. They might also cluck in their throats, or squeal during male wrestling and romping. They do spit, but usually at each other as a way to communicate their annoyance with other alpacas.
The alpaca¹s fiber is shorn once a year, with a yield of 3-11 pounds per alpaca. Unlike sheep¹s wool, alpaca fiber does not have lanolin, therefore, eliminating much of the processing before an end product is ready for use.
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