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Laminoids Temporal range: Miocene–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Llama
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Camelidae
Subfamily:	Camelinae
Tribe:	Lamini Webb, 1965
Genera
†Alforjas Harrison, 1979 Lama Cuvier, 1800 †Hemiauchenia Gervais & Ameghino, 1880 †Palaeolama Gervais, 1869 †Pleiolama †Aepycamelus †Miotylopus †Eulamaops †Oxydactylus †Nothokemas †Aguascalientia †Australocamelus †Protolabis †Blancocamelus †Cuyamacamelus

Lamini (members are called lamines) is a tribe of the subfamily Camelinae. It contains one extant genus with four species, all exclusively from South America: llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. The former two are domesticated species, while the latter two are only found in the wild. None display sexual dimorphism. The four species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Additionally, there are several extinct genera.

The digestive system of lamoids allows them to digest certain toxins. Laminoids also lack a gallbladder.

Evolutionary history

Lamines originated during the Miocene in North America, and migrated into South America during the Pliocene and Pleistocene as part of the Great American Interchange. Most species of lamines, including the genera Hemiauchenia and Palaeolama and all North American species, became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene around 12,000 years ago as part of the Quaternary extinction event along with most other large mammals in the Americas.

Characteristics and distribution

The llama (Lama glama) is the largest of the extant laminoids and weighs 130–150 kilograms (290–330 lb) with a height of 109–119 cm (43–47 in) at the shoulder. Llamas are not a natural species; rather, they were domesticated by the Peruvians and Bolivians of the highlands. Commercial trade led to the llama's current abundance in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and northeast Argentina. There are bands of llamas in the United States, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand.

The color and length of the llama's wool is variable, depending on the race. The diameter of llama wool's fiber varies between 20 and 80 micrometers, depending on whether the llamas were raised for its wool or as a pack animal.

The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a wild camelid, standing at 100–120 cm (39–47 in) at the shoulder and 150–160 cm (59–63 in) at the head. It can weigh up to 140 kilograms (310 lb). Its pelage is longer than vicuña wool but shorter than that of the alpaca; it is considered to be of excellent quality and has a light brown, reddish, or brown-yellow color. The diameter of its fleece's fibers varies between 16 and 18 micrometers.

90% of the world's guanacos are in Argentina, distributed from the islands of the Beagle Channel and the southern extremity of Patagonia to the Puna grassland in northwestern Argentina. Guanacos can also be found in Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru.

The alpaca (Lama pacos), a domestic camelid, weighs between 50 and 65 kg (110 and 143 lb), while its height at the shoulder is 94–104 cm (37–41 in). It is slightly larger than the vicuña. Normally, the alpaca is found in the Andes in Peru and Bolivia, though it also inhabits northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. There are about 3.5 million alpacas in the world. In the 1980s, alpacas started being exported to other countries for farming purposes: they can be found in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, though the vast majority still reside in South America.

The alpaca is mainly raised for its wool. Out of the domestic camelids, the alpaca produces wool with longer and finer fiber than the llama, with a strand diameter of 18–25 micrometers.

The vicuña (Lama vicugna) is the smallest camelid, with a shoulder height of 75–100 cm (30–39 in) and a weight of 40–60 kg (88–132 lb). Its coat is mainly beige in color and is said to make "the best wool in the world", with the average fiber diameter between 11 and 14 micrometers. Like rodents, the vicuña has continuously-growing incisors. It lives only in areas of high altitude – 3,200 m (10,500 ft) or greater – in the highlands of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.

See also

• Ruminant
• Ungulate

References

1. Wheeler, Jane C. (2012). "South American camelids - past, present and future" (PDF). Journal of Camelid Science. 5: 13. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
2. Fowler, Murray E. (1998). Medicine and surgery of South American camelids: llama, alpaca, vicuña, guanaco (2nd ed.). Ames, Iowa: Blackwell. ISBN 0813803977.
3. Hogan, C. Michael (2008). Strömberg, N. (ed.). "Guanaco: Lama guanicoe". GlobalTwitcher. Archived from the original on 2011-03-04.
4. Lynch, Sinéad; Sánchez-Villagra, Marcelo R.; Balcarcel, Ana (December 2020). "Description of a fossil camelid from the Pleistocene of Argentina, and a cladistic analysis of the Camelinae". Swiss Journal of Palaeontology. 139 (1): 5. doi:10.1186/s13358-020-00208-6. ISSN 1664-2376. PMC 7590954. PMID 33133011.
5. ^ Gasparini, Germán Mariano; De los Reyes, Martín; Francia, Analía; Scherer, Carolina Saldanha; Poiré, Daniel Gustavo (March 2017). "The oldest record of Hemiauchenia Gervais and Ameghino (Mammalia, Cetartiodactyla) in South America: Comments about its paleobiogeographic and stratigraphic implications". Geobios. 50 (2): 141–153. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2016.12.003. hdl:11336/48701.
6. ^ Stahl, Peter W. (4 April 2008). "Animal Domestication in South America". In Silverman, Helaine; Isbell, William (eds.). Handbook of South American Archaeology. Springer. pp. 121–130. ISBN 9780387752280.
7. Furlong, Charles Wellington (October 1912 – March 1913). "Hunting the Guanaco". The Outing Magazine. 61 (1): 5.
8. "Guanaco: Lama guanicoe". World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
9. ^ "San Diego Zoo's Animal Bytes: Guanaco". Zoological Society of San Diego. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
10. Baldi, R.B.; Acebes, P.; Cuéllar, E.; Funes, M.; Hoces, D.; Puig, S.; Franklin, W.L. (2016). "Lama guanicoe". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T11186A18540211. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T11186A18540211.en. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
11. Castillo-Ruiz, Alexandra. "Lama pacos: alpaca". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
12. Quiggle, Charlotte (Fall 2000). "Alpaca: An Ancient Luxury". Interweave Knits: 74–76.
13. "Mammal Guide: Vicuña". Animal Planet. Discovery Communications, LLC. Retrieved 11 December 2012.

• Camelids
• Mammals of South America
• Mammal tribes