An alpaca standing in a managed pasture in Germany.

Alpaca in Börnste, Dülmen, Germany.

Creator: Dietmar Rabich

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

View image source

Species record

Alpaca

Vicugna pacos

Explore the Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The Alpaca is a domesticated South American camelid developed in the Andes, especially Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. It is kept in managed herds on highland pasture and farms, where its fine fleece is the main product.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Chordates
  3. Subphylum: Vertebrates
  4. Class: Mammals
  5. Order: Even-toed ungulates
  6. Family: Camelidae
  7. Genus: Vicugna
  8. Species: Vicugna pacos

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
highland pastures, farms, grasslands
Selected regions
South America, Oceania
Selected countries
Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Australia

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

  • Alpaca fleece is lightweight and insulating.
  • Alpacas are timid and prefer to stay with their herd.

More images

Close view of an alpaca at Karlsruhe Zoo in Germany.

Alpaca at Karlsruhe Zoo, Germany.

Creator: H. Zell

Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

View image source
An alpaca at Capel Manor College and Gardens in Enfield, London.

Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) at Capel Manor College and Gardens, Enfield, London.

Creator: Acabashi — Wikimedia Commons. [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

View image source

Sources and attribution