---
title: "What the sources say about the Llama | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "51 claims from the Llama profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/llama-1.webp"
canonical: "https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/llama/sources/"
---

# What the sources say about the Llama (*Lama glama*)

> 51 claims from the Llama profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Llama](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/llama/)

## Lama glama. Animal Diversity Web.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lama_glama/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Domesticated; native range along the Andes, now kept in North America, Europe and Australia too | have a native range all along the Andes mountains, but are not found in the wild (note: stats.habitat; the rest below) |
| now kept in North America, Europe and Australia too | can be found commercially throughout North America, Europe and Australia (note: stats.habitat) |
| Low shrubs, lichens and mountain vegetation | Llamas browse on low shrubs, lichens, and mountain vegetation. (note: stats.diet) |
| Not Evaluated | IUCN Red List No special status (note: 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.) |
| A llama stands about 1.21 m at the shoulder and about 1.2 m from head to tail. | Llamas are fairly large mammals standing about 1.21 m at the shoulder and about 1.2 m in length from head to tail. |
| Its 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. | Llamas 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. |
| Each foot has two toes and a thick leathery pad. | L. glama has a two toed foot with a thick leathery pad on each foot’s sole. |
| Most llamas live about 15 years, and well cared for ones can pass 20. | Well cared for domesticated individuals can live in excess of 20 years but most live for about 15 years. |
| The native range runs all along the Andes, though the llama is not found in the wild. | have a native range all along the Andes mountains, but are not found in the wild |
| at 2,300 to 4,000 m | Range elevation 2300 to 4000 m |
| Today it is kept commercially across North America, Europe and Australia. | can be found commercially throughout North America, Europe and Australia |
| Llamas browse on low shrubs, lichens and mountain vegetation. | Llamas browse on low shrubs, lichens, and mountain vegetation. |
| A group's leading male defends his position | This group is led by a male llama that aggressively defends his position by engaging in dominance fighting. |
| by trying to wrestle a challenger to the ground, biting his limbs and wrapping his own long neck around the rival's. | This 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 loser lies sideways on the ground with his neck lowered and his tail raised. | Llama 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') |
| Against predators they have been reported charging, kicking, biting and spitting. | Llamas are aggressive towards predators and have been reported charging, kicking, biting, and spitting at those they deem a threat. |
| They guard them. | Because of their aggression and protectiveness towards other animals, llamas are commonly used as as guard animals for sheep, goats, and horses. |
| Where sheep are present, most llamas adopt them into the family group and defend them as if they were llamas. | If sheep are present, most llamas will adopt them into the family group and defend them as if they were llamas themselves. |
| Studies indicate that predation drops sharply when a few llamas join a sheep or goat flock. | By incorporating a few llamas into their sheep or goat flocks, studies indicate that predation drops sharply. |
| Historically, llamas hauled loads over the Andes, and they can carry burdens in excess of 60 kg for up to 30 km per day. | Historically 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. |
| A woolly Andean pack animal | The thick, coarse wool of llamas is valuable. |
| Andean pack animal | An indispensable pack animal |
| Adults can weigh 130 to 155 kg. | Range mass 130 to 155 kg |
| Animal Diversity Web calls the llama the largest of the South American camelids, which include alpacas and guanacos. | South American camelids, including llamas, alpacas, and guanacos do not have humps as do Old World camelids. Llamas are the largest member of this group. |
| Its natural habitat is the Andean highlands, especially the Altiplano plateau of southeast Peru and western Bolivia | The Andean highlands, especially the Altiplano of southeast Peru and western Bolivia, is the natural habitat of L. glama (note: 'plateau' is the page's word: 'These plateaus') |
| at 2,300 to 4,000 m | Range elevation 2300 to 4000 m |
| Females are induced ovulators: mating stimulates them to release an egg. | female llamas undergo induced ovulation where the ovum is released about 24 to 36 hours after copulation (note: '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) |
| induced ovulation | female llamas undergo induced ovulation (note: heading) |
| weightKg: 140 | Average mass 140 kg (note: 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) |

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

https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Lama_glama

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The oldest captive llama in one longevity database was still alive at 28.9 years. | Maximum longevity 28.9 years (captivity) (note: Observations: 'One captive specimen was still alive at 28.9 years of age') |
| Domesticated llamas are descended from the wild guanaco (Lama guanicoe). | Since domesticated llamas are descended from the wild guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ) |
| Gestation averages about 330 days. | Life history traits (averages) Female sexual maturity 800 days Male sexual maturity 800 days Gestation 330 days (note: faq 1. AnAge (build 15, 2023) wins over ADW's older 'about 360 days') |
| A female has one young at a time and one litter a year | Litter size 1 (viviparous) Litters per year 1 (note: faq 1) |
| a newborn weighs about 11 kg | Weight at birth 11,000 g (note: faq 1. AnAge over ADW's older 'about 10 kg'; 11,000 g converted to 11 kg) |
| Guanaco roots | descended from the wild guanaco (note: heading) |

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

https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20112655

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| one raised by immunization neutralized 96 of 100 HIV-1 strains tested | neutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strains (note: stats.superpower) |
| Llamas (Lama glama) naturally make heavy chain-only antibodies as well as conventional ones | Llamas ( Lama glama ) naturally produce heavy chain–only antibodies (Abs) in addition to conventional Abs. |
| Their binding end, called a VHH, matches a conventional antibody for affinity and specificity despite being much smaller. | The variable regions (VHH) in these heavy chain–only Abs demonstrate comparable affinity and specificity for antigens to conventional immunoglobulins despite their much smaller size. |
| A llama was repeatedly immunized with HIV-1 envelope proteins, and its VHH library was then screened for the ability to block the virus. | a 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 neutralization (note: 'block' is the page's plain word for neutralization) |
| One VHH, J3, neutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strains, covering subtypes A, B, C, D, BC, AE, AG, AC, ACD, CD, and G. | One 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. |
| makes heavy chain-only antibodies | naturally produce heavy chain–only antibodies |
| neutralized 96 of 100 HIV-1 strains tested | neutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strains |
| Makes heavy chain-only antibodies | naturally produce heavy chain–only antibodies |
| one raised by immunization neutralized 96 of 100 HIV-1 strains tested | neutralized 96 of 100 tested HIV-1 strains (note: stats.superpower) |
| Antibodies made of heavy chains only | naturally produce heavy chain–only antibodies (note: heading) |
| raised by immunization | isolated from a llama repeatedly immunized with trimeric HIV-1 Env (note: tagline and stats.superpower) |
| The binding end of its heavy chain-only antibodies matches a conventional antibody for affinity and specificity despite being much smaller | The 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) |

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

https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0900535

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| ovulation came on the 2nd day after mating in 26 of 27 ovulating animals | Ovulation occurred on the 2nd day after mating with a vasectomized or intact male in 26/27 (96%) ovulating llamas |
| In a study of 41 llamas | were studied in 41 llamas |

## 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.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2001.1774

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Domesticated llamas are descended from the wild guanaco (Lama guanicoe). | these markers show high genetic similarity between alpaca and vicuña, and between llama and guanaco (note: supporting: Kadwell's microsatellite result; the abstract adds 'although bidirectional hybridization is also revealed') |
| put 80% of llama and alpaca sequences in the guanaco lineage | MtDNA analysis places 80% of llama and alpaca sequences in the guanaco lineage |