Georgina M Byrne
The camel family (Camilidae), originated with a single ancestral type in North America, between 40 and 45 million years ago. Approximately 11 million years ago, the family divided into two; the Camelini and the Lamini . The Camelini migrated across what was then a land bridge and on into Asia and the Lamini moved via the existing landbridge into South America. Around 3 million years ago, both camelini and lamini died out in North America, leaving the two families divided by an enormous land and ocean divide.
Two species of camel exist today, the one humped Camelus dromedarius which is found mostly from North Africa to Southwest Asia (and, of course, in Australia) and the two-humped Camelus bactrianus, which ranges further to the north and east in the cold desert regions of Mongolia and China. Both camel species are thought to have been domesticated for thousands of years. Although they share many characteristics, such as soft, padded two-toed feet and extremely efficient digestive systems, they are many times larger than their South American cousins.
In South America, there are four members of the lamini family. Two are wild (the guanaco, Lama guanicoe, and the vicuna, Vicugna vicugna) and two domesticated (the llama, Lama glama and the alpaca, Lama pacos). Archaeological evidence suggests that domestication occurred in the Peruvian Andes between 6, 000 and 7,000 years ago.
Although their territories overlap, it appears that guanaco and vicuna do not cross-breed in the wild, although both can be mated successfully to either llama or alpaca, to produce fertile offspring. Though once thought to be different species, DNA studies on modern-day llamas and alpacas suggest a common ancestry from the guanaco, with some vicuna influence in alpaca DNA.
Following the conquest and dispersal of their South American herders by the Spanish invaders, both numbers and quality of llamas and alpacas were drastically decreased. It is only in the last hundred years or so that breed improvement through selection and better living conditions has occurred.
Engravings of 19th century llamas and alpacas kept in England as curiosities support the theory that cross-breeding with wild camelids was a common occurrence, as was the mixing of alpaca and llama genes.
Modern alpaca can be divided into two breeds, the suri and the huacaya. Both are long-woolled and are kept, in their countries of origin, for fleece and meat production. There are currently around 10,000 alpaca in North America and nearly 40,000 in Australia, where they are kept mainly for breeding stock and for fleece production.
Llama today, range from short-woolled, as in the guanaco and vicuna, to long-woolled (both suri-type and huacaya-type). In South America, where llama numbers are approximately equal to those of alpaca, they are kept for meat and fleece production and for the transportation of goods, particularly in inaccessible mountain areas. They are also of great importance in the cultural and religious lives of their indigenous owners.
The 100,000 plus llamas in North America are kept for a wide variety of uses, from the production of exquisite textiles to the transportation of tourists' or forestry workers' equipment into wilderness areas. Studies have shown them to be as effective as guarding dog breeds in the protection of smaller livestock from coyotes and foxes. Their ease of care, environmental suitability and gentle nature have made them the livestock of choice for small land-holders across the USA and Canada.
Growing numbers of owners and breeders in Australia and New Zealand, are making the same choice.
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