ABSTRACT
The South American camelids consist of 4 species – llamas (Lama glama), alpacas (Lama pacos), guanacos (Lama guanicoe), and vicuñas (Lama vicugna); their generic nomenclature is controversial. Traditionally, they are distributed at high altitudes (3,600–5,400 m) in South America where they are sources of meat, hide, fiber, and transport, and their feces are used for fuel and fertilizer. In many countries, such as the United States, they are reared for recreation, and the commercial product is a live animal.
