Alpacas originate from South America and are bred from the wild Vicuna which is now a rare and protected species. The llama is bred from the wild Guanaco, which is still relatively common through out South America. They are both in the camelid family, which also Includes the Asian camel.

Where do alpacas live in the wild?

Alpacas inhabit marshy mountainous areas from southern Colombia and Ecuador south to northern Chile and northern Argentina. They are slender-bodied animals with a long neck and long legs, a short tail, a small head, and large pointed ears. Alpacas (Vicugna pacos) are raised in the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia.

What is the difference between llama and alpaca?

The most-distinguishing physical differences between alpacas and llamas are their size, their hair, and their face shapes. ... Their faces are also dissimilar: alpacas have small, blunt faces with short ears, while llamas have more-elongated faces with banana-sized ears. Another key difference is their hair.