Camelids Review

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Camelidae

Genus & Species (Llama)

Lama glama

Genus & Species (Alpaca)

Vicugna pacos

Temperature

99.0 - 101.5

Heart rate

60 - 90

Respiration rate

10 - 30

Avg Lifespan

15 – 20 years

Cria

Neonate up to six months of age

Yearling

A camelid older than 1 year but not yet 2 years of age

Orgle

The mating sounds made by males

Cush (kush)

Sternal recumbency - the position a receptive female takes for breeding

Obligate Nasal Breather

animal whose anatomy strongly favors or requires breathing through the nose rather than the mouth

Aberrant Behavior Syndrome

these are aggressive, unmannerly behaviors by hand-raised camelids, that become extremely dangerous towards people

Adult Height (at the withers) (Llama)

42 - 48 inches

Adult Height (at the withers) (Alpaca)

34 - 36 inches

Adult Weight (Llama)

280 - 450 lb

Adult Weight (Alpaca)

150 - 185 lb

Alpacas are ______ than llamas.

softer

________ have a dual-fiber coat that has a fine covering but it is intermingled with long guard hairs making it more course

Llamas

Alpacas & llamas should be shorn __________?

each year

Alpacas were originally bred for

fiber

Llamas were originally bred for

fiber, meat, and to be pack animals

Alpacas are more

timid

Llamas are protectors and can be used as

guard animals

Type of estrous cycle

Polyestrous

Age of female at puberty (Llama)

6 to 12 months

Age of female at puberty (Alpaca)

12 months

Age of male at puberty (Llama)

2 to 3 years

Age of male at puberty (Alpaca)

2 to 3 years

Age at first breeding

2.5 to 3.5 years

Induced ovulators

animals that release eggs only in response to external stimuli, such as mating, rather than on a regular cycle.

Gestation period

335 - 365 days

Where does ovulation occur?

both ovaries

What % of pregnancies are carried in the left uterine horn?

95% or more

Birth weight (Alpaca)

12-17 lbs

Birth weight (Llama)

24-35 lbs

Litter size

1

Live cover

Most common method of breeding

Mate in a cush position (sternal recumbency) for

20 – 45 minutes

Epidermal membrane on

the crias

Each side has _____ upper incisor?

one

Each side has _____ lower incisors?

three

Premolars and molars are referred to as

cheek teeth

Llamas & alpacas don’t have

first or second premolars

_________sometimes absent on exam or rads?

Third premolars

The ________almost always present

fourth premolar

Total adult teeth

28 – 32

Male llamas and alpacas have…?

Permanent upper incisor & upper and lower canines (fighting teeth)

Females and castrated males may or may not possess…?

Permanent canine teeth

What kind of forestomach?

Three-compartment

C1

83% of total stomach volume and is analogous to the rumen

C2

6% of total stomach volume and is analogous to the reticulum

C3

remaining volume and is analogous to the abomasum

Camelids should not be fed.

whole oats

Camelids are sensitive to?

copper

Llamas possess red blood cells with a

unique shape (oval), small size, and high hemoglobin content.

Their red blood cells can

swell up to 240% of their normal size without lysing (breaking)