Pecunia animal skin#

You can tell a guanaco by its size and colouring: brown back, white belly and grey face with short, straight ears.

Pecunia animal skin#

Locals use this skin to create the soles of shoes. One of the largest wild mammals in South America, the guanaco – like the other camelids –has thick skin on its neck to protect it from attacks. GET INSPIRED: Land of the Incas And what’s a guanaco? The supremely soft fur can only be shorn every three years, which means you’ll see vicuña wool garments selling for upwards of $3000! Vicuñas are also the smallest of the four camelids, growing to a maximum of just 85 centimetres high. The vicuña is an endangered and protected species so they will be harder to spot. The pride of Peru, this is the national animal and appears on the coat-of-arms (despite being found in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia too). No, you’ll have to keep your eyes on the horizon to spot these slim and short camelids leaping across the high Andes. This means you won’t see a shy vicuña grazing nearby with a perfectly brushed coat ready for a selfie. Llamas and alpacas are domesticated, while vicuñas and guanacos are wild. Now we are down to the difference between wild and domesticated camelids. RELATED CONTENT: The fascinating history behind Peru’s humble potato So what’s a Vicuña? Llamas also grow up to 1.7 metres, if you can get close enough to measure! This also makes them cuter! Llamas have quite distinctive banana-shaped or devil horn ears and longer faces. Alpacas have fluffy heads with flatter snouts, softer features and short ears. Obviously this isn’t the easiest thing to do, so another way is to look at their heads. Llamas Vs Alpacas! The best way to tell a llama and alpaca apart is line them up side-by-side and you’ll see one is much bigger. It is a healthy choice as it’s low in fat and cholesterol. Now, we just showed you a cute picture of a fluffy little alpaca, so you might not like to think about how delicious they taste but… you can find and eat alpaca at restaurants throughout Peru. They make a wonderful gift or souvenir to remember your travels.

Be sure to leave space in your suitcase for a few alpaca scarves, blankets or sweaters to take home. Alpacas are bred for their wool, which is valued for its high quality and softness.

What about alpacas?Īlpacas are much smaller camelids and a little more jumpy than the brave llama. They can also carry up to a quarter of their weight so are popular as pack animals. Llamas make great guard animals for flocks of sheep, chickens, other livestock and even their more petite cousins, the alpaca. Llamas are quite independent and more chill than alpacas, but they also have an aggressive side that farmers often use to their advantage. Generally they are curious, domesticated creatures that might approach you if they feel comfortable – so have your cameras ready for a cute photo or selfie! What’s cool about llamas? They have thick wool that is not as soft or refined as alpaca fleece, which is prized for its wool.īoth can spit but are more likely to aim it at each other when they feel threatened. Llamas are widely used as pack animals in the Andean region. Maybe you’ve fed a llama or alpaca on a farm, or perhaps you were lucky enough to reach Machu Picchu and see one up close. Llamas Vs Alpacas: What’s the difference? Let’s get you acquainted with these long legged, long lashed creatures before you embark for Peru. It’s likely you’re somewhat familiar with llamas and alpacas, but it’s less likely you’ve heard of their cousins vicuñas (vi-koo-nyas) and guanacos (gwa-nah-kos). Wondering what the differences between llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and even guanacos are? All four long-necked animals are camelids from the Andes of Peru but they have unique features that separate them.