DNA analysis has confirmed that the guanaco is the wild ancestor of the llama, while the vicuña is the wild ancestor of the alpaca the latter two were placed in the genus Vicugna. They were, however, separated by Georges Cuvier in 1800 under the name of lama along with the guanaco. They were included in the genus Camelus along with alpaca in the Systema Naturae ( 1758) of Carl Linnaeus. Although early writers compared llamas to sheep, their similarity to the camel was soon recognized. Guanacos and vicuñas live in the wild, while llamas and alpacas exist only as domesticated animals. Lama guanicoe pacos), and the domestic llama ( Lama glama). Lama vicugna), guanaco ( Lama guanicoe), Suri alpaca, and Huacaya alpaca ( Vicugna pacos, prev. Lamoids, or llamas (as they are more generally known as a group), consist of the vicuña ( Vicugna vicugna, prev. Classification A traditionally dressed Quechua girl with a llama in Cusco, Peru According to Aymara eschatology, llamas will return to the water springs and lagoons where they come from at the end of time. The Heavenly Llama is said to drink water from the ocean and urinates as it rains. In Aymara mythology, llamas are important beings. As of 2007, there were over seven million llamas and alpacas in South America and over 158,000 llamas and 100,000 alpacas, descended from progenitors imported late in the 20th century, in the United States and Canada. By the end of the last ice age (10,000–12,000 years ago), camelids were extinct in North America. The ancestors of llamas are thought to have originated from the Great Plains of North America about 40 million years ago, and subsequently migrated to South America about three million years ago during the Great American Interchange. The name llama (in the past also spelled "lama" or "glama") was adopted by European settlers from native Peruvians. When using a pack, they can carry about 25 to 30% of their body weight for 8 to 13 km (5–8 miles). Llamas can learn simple tasks after a few repetitions. Their wool is soft and contains only a small amount of lanolin. Llamas are social animals and live with others as a herd. The llama ( / ˈ l ɑː m ə/ Spanish pronunciation: ) ( Lama glama) is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since the Pre-Columbian era.
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