What is Alpaca?
{{Taxobox | name = Alpaca | image = Unshorn alpaca grazing.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Alpaca | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Artiodactyla]] | familia = [[Camelidae]] | genus = ''[[Vicugna]]'' | species = '''''V. pacos''''' | binomial = ''Vicugna pacos'' | binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758) }} The '''Alpaca''' (''Vicugna pacos'') is one of the four species of [[South America]]n [[camelid]], and they are domesticated. It resembles a small llama in superficial appearance. Alpacas are bred for their fiber while Llamas are used to carry burdens.<ref name=wheeler>{{cite journal|doi = 10.1098/rspb.2001.1774|pmid =11749713|pmc =1088918 |last1 =Kadwell|first1 =Miranda|last2 =Fernandez|first2 =Matilde|last3 =Stanley|first3 =Helen F.|last4 =Baldi|first4 =Ricardo|last5 =Wheeler|first5 =Jane C.|last6 =Rosadio|first6 =Raul|last7 =Bruford|first7 =Michael W.|title =Genetic analysis reveals the wild ancestors of the llama and the alpaca|journal =Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences|year =2001|volume =268|issue =1485|pages =2575–2584}}</ref> == Diet == They usually eat hay or grasses, but they actually try to chew most things, even an empty bottle. However, there are many plants that are poisonous to an Alpaca. == Reproduction == The Alpaca takes about 355 days until the babies are born (11-12 months). They may live up to 20 years (up to 25 years in a zoo). They are as much as 3 or 4 times the opportunity to be mowed fiber in their life. There they live together with Sheep and pygmy goats. <ref>Hannover Zoo: [http://www.zoo-hannover.de/zoo-erleben/tiere-von-a-z/alpaka.html?L=0#steckbrief Alpaka (in German)]{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, viewed 2012-12-06</ref> They were selectively bred for household goods like clothes, because they have such good wool. Since the wool made from alpaca is very warm, the wool is popular in the world. == Domesticat