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What the sources say

LlamaLama glama

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Llama profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 51 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web

Lama glama. Animal Diversity Web.

The page saysDomesticated; native range along the Andes, now kept in North America, Europe and Australia too
The source sayshave a native range all along the Andes mountains, but are not found in the wildNote: stats.habitat; the rest below
The page saysnow kept in North America, Europe and Australia too
The source sayscan be found commercially throughout North America, Europe and AustraliaNote: stats.habitat
The page saysLow shrubs, lichens and mountain vegetation
The source saysLlamas browse on low shrubs, lichens, and mountain vegetation.Note: stats.diet
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysIUCN Red List No special statusNote: stats.conservationStatus. ADW's 'No special status' anchors only that no Red List category applies. The prefetch found no Red List assessment for Lama glama (GBIF has no category, no Crossref assessment DOI); the llama is domesticated, so no IUCN reference is cited. Its wild ancestor, the guanaco, has its own assessment, which is not the llama's. Precedent domestic-cat, goat.
The page saysA llama stands about 1.21 m at the shoulder and about 1.2 m from head to tail.
The source saysLlamas are fairly large mammals standing about 1.21 m at the shoulder and about 1.2 m in length from head to tail.
The page saysIts blood has an unusually high content of hemoglobin and oval red blood cells, which Animal Diversity Web calls adaptations for oxygen-poor, high-altitude air.
The source saysLlamas have an unusually high content of hemoglobin in their bloodstream and oval shaped red blood corpuscles, both of which are adaptaions for surviving in an oxygen-poor, high altitude environment.
The page saysEach foot has two toes and a thick leathery pad.
The source saysL. glama has a two toed foot with a thick leathery pad on each foot’s sole.
The page saysMost llamas live about 15 years, and well cared for ones can pass 20.
The source saysWell cared for domesticated individuals can live in excess of 20 years but most live for about 15 years.
The page saysThe native range runs all along the Andes, though the llama is not found in the wild.
The source sayshave a native range all along the Andes mountains, but are not found in the wild
The page saysat 2,300 to 4,000 m
The source saysRange elevation 2300 to 4000 m
The page saysToday it is kept commercially across North America, Europe and Australia.
The source sayscan be found commercially throughout North America, Europe and Australia
The page saysLlamas browse on low shrubs, lichens and mountain vegetation.
The source saysLlamas browse on low shrubs, lichens, and mountain vegetation.
The page saysA group's leading male defends his position
The source saysThis group is led by a male llama that aggressively defends his position by engaging in dominance fighting.
The page saysby trying to wrestle a challenger to the ground, biting his limbs and wrapping his own long neck around the rival's.
The source saysThis fighting consists of the male trying to wrestle the opponent (a usurping male) to the ground by biting his limbs and wrapping his own long neck around his opponent’s.
The page saysThe loser lies sideways on the ground with his neck lowered and his tail raised.
The source saysLlama submission stance is lying sidways on the ground with the neck lowered, and the tail raised.Note: 'loser' is the page's word for the opponent who 'has properly submitted to the victor'
The page saysAgainst predators they have been reported charging, kicking, biting and spitting.
The source saysLlamas are aggressive towards predators and have been reported charging, kicking, biting, and spitting at those they deem a threat.
The page saysThey guard them.
The source saysBecause of their aggression and protectiveness towards other animals, llamas are commonly used as as guard animals for sheep, goats, and horses.
The page saysWhere sheep are present, most llamas adopt them into the family group and defend them as if they were llamas.
The source saysIf sheep are present, most llamas will adopt them into the family group and defend them as if they were llamas themselves.
The page saysStudies indicate that predation drops sharply when a few llamas join a sheep or goat flock.
The source saysBy incorporating a few llamas into their sheep or goat flocks, studies indicate that predation drops sharply.
The page saysHistorically, llamas hauled loads over the Andes, and they can carry burdens in excess of 60 kg for up to 30 km per day.
The source saysHistorically llamas were used to haul loads over the Andean mountains because of their ability to carry burdens in excess of 60 kg for up to 30 km per day.
The page saysA woolly Andean pack animal
The source saysThe thick, coarse wool of llamas is valuable.
The page saysAndean pack animal
The source saysAn indispensable pack animal
The page saysAdults can weigh 130 to 155 kg.
The source saysRange mass 130 to 155 kg
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web calls the llama the largest of the South American camelids, which include alpacas and guanacos.
The source saysSouth American camelids, including llamas, alpacas, and guanacos do not have humps as do Old World camelids. Llamas are the largest member of this group.
The page saysIts natural habitat is the Andean highlands, especially the Altiplano plateau of southeast Peru and western Bolivia
The source saysThe Andean highlands, especially the Altiplano of southeast Peru and western Bolivia, is the natural habitat of L. glamaNote: 'plateau' is the page's word: 'These plateaus'
The page saysat 2,300 to 4,000 m
The source saysRange elevation 2300 to 4000 m
The page saysFemales are induced ovulators: mating stimulates them to release an egg.
The source saysfemale llamas undergo induced ovulation where the ovum is released about 24 to 36 hours after copulationNote: 'mating stimulates them' paraphrases induced ovulation; the 24 to 36 h figure is not on the page, which gives Adams 1990's measured 2nd day
The page saysinduced ovulation
The source saysfemale llamas undergo induced ovulationNote: heading
The page saysweightKg: 140
The source saysAverage mass 140 kgNote: task #1110: ADW's average, matched by AnAge's 140,000 g adult weight; Heavy class, where the name guess gave Light. Not in a curated matchup

Source
02

Human Ageing Genomic Resources, AnAge

AnAge entry for Lama glama. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, AnAge.

The page saysThe oldest captive llama in one longevity database was still alive at 28.9 years.
The source saysMaximum longevity 28.9 years (captivity)Note: Observations: 'One captive specimen was still alive at 28.9 years of age'
The page saysDomesticated llamas are descended from the wild guanaco (Lama guanicoe).
The source saysSince domesticated llamas are descended from the wild guanaco ( Lama guanicoe )
The page saysGestation averages about 330 days.
The source saysLife history traits (averages) Female sexual maturity 800 days Male sexual maturity 800 days Gestation 330 daysNote: faq 1. AnAge (build 15, 2023) wins over ADW's older 'about 360 days'
The page saysA female has one young at a time and one litter a year
The source saysLitter size 1 (viviparous) Litters per year 1Note: faq 1
The page saysa newborn weighs about 11 kg
The source saysWeight at birth 11,000 gNote: faq 1. AnAge over ADW's older 'about 10 kg'; 11,000 g converted to 11 kg
The page saysGuanaco roots
The source saysdescended from the wild guanacoNote: heading

Source
03

McCoy et al. 2012

McCoy et al. (2012). Potent and broad neutralization of HIV-1 by a llama antibody elicited by immunization. Journal of Experimental Medicine.

The page saysone raised by immunization neutralized 96 of 100 HIV-1 strains tested
The source saysneutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strainsNote: stats.superpower
The page saysLlamas (Lama glama) naturally make heavy chain-only antibodies as well as conventional ones
The source saysLlamas ( Lama glama ) naturally produce heavy chain–only antibodies (Abs) in addition to conventional Abs.
The page saysTheir binding end, called a VHH, matches a conventional antibody for affinity and specificity despite being much smaller.
The source saysThe variable regions (VHH) in these heavy chain–only Abs demonstrate comparable affinity and specificity for antigens to conventional immunoglobulins despite their much smaller size.
The page saysA llama was repeatedly immunized with HIV-1 envelope proteins, and its VHH library was then screened for the ability to block the virus.
The source saysa VHH phagemid library generated from a llama that was multiply immunized with recombinant trimeric HIV-1 envelope proteins (Envs) was screened directly for HIV-1 neutralizationNote: 'block' is the page's plain word for neutralization
The page saysOne VHH, J3, neutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strains, covering subtypes A, B, C, D, BC, AE, AG, AC, ACD, CD, and G.
The source saysOne VHH, L8CJ3 (J3), neutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strains, encompassing subtypes A, B, C, D, BC, AE, AG, AC, ACD, CD, and G.
The page saysmakes heavy chain-only antibodies
The source saysnaturally produce heavy chain–only antibodies
The page saysneutralized 96 of 100 HIV-1 strains tested
The source saysneutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strains
The page saysMakes heavy chain-only antibodies
The source saysnaturally produce heavy chain–only antibodies
The page saysone raised by immunization neutralized 96 of 100 HIV-1 strains tested
The source saysneutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strainsNote: stats.superpower
The page saysAntibodies made of heavy chains only
The source saysnaturally produce heavy chain–only antibodiesNote: heading
The page saysraised by immunization
The source saysisolated from a llama repeatedly immunized with trimeric HIV-1 EnvNote: tagline and stats.superpower
The page saysThe binding end of its heavy chain-only antibodies matches a conventional antibody for affinity and specificity despite being much smaller
The source saysThe variable regions (VHH) in these heavy chain–only Abs demonstrate comparable affinity and specificity for antigens to conventional immunoglobulins despite their much smaller size.Note: vibe.reason

Source
04

Adams, Sumar & Ginther 1990

Adams, Sumar & Ginther (1990). Effects of lactational and reproductive status on ovarian follicular waves in llamas ( Lama glama ). Reproduction.

The page saysovulation came on the 2nd day after mating in 26 of 27 ovulating animals
The source saysOvulation occurred on the 2nd day after mating with a vasectomized or intact male in 26/27 (96%) ovulating llamas
The page saysIn a study of 41 llamas
The source sayswere studied in 41 llamas

Source
05

Kadwell et al. 2001

Kadwell et al. (2001). Genetic analysis reveals the wild ancestors of the llama and the alpaca. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysDomesticated llamas are descended from the wild guanaco (Lama guanicoe).
The source saysthese markers show high genetic similarity between alpaca and vicuña, and between llama and guanacoNote: supporting: Kadwell's microsatellite result; the abstract adds 'although bidirectional hybridization is also revealed'
The page saysput 80% of llama and alpaca sequences in the guanaco lineage
The source saysMtDNA analysis places 80% of llama and alpaca sequences in the guanaco lineage

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.