Llama

Lama glama

Llama color ranges from white to black, with shades of gray, brown, red and roan in between. Llamas live only in domestication; they were domesticated from the guanaco for about 6000 years. They are mostly kept grazing freely on grasslands and scrublands at elevations between 2,300-4,000 m (7,400-12,800 ft). Llamas are very graceful in their movements, but they have the unpleasant habit of spitting at annoying objects. They run with a swinging stride, with their front and hind legs moving in unison on each side. At the time of the Incas, llamas were sacrificial animals. Although their meat was eaten, its role in nourishing the population was minimal.

The above picture was taken in Indianapolis zoo in April 2001.

Genus Lama
Family Camelidae
Order Artiodactyla
Subclass Eutheria
Class Mammalia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
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