The Language of Humming
Did you know that alpacas have developed a complex vocal communication system? While they’re generally quiet animals, alpacas are actually more vocal than llamas. Their most common vocalization is a humming sound, which comes in different varieties for different situations. Scientists have identified distinct types of hums like the “separation hum” when they’re looking for herd members, “distress hums” when they’re worried, and screams that indicate extreme fear. They can also make high-pitched alarm calls, described as “whistles” or “whinnies”, to alert the herd of potential dangers.
The fact that alpacas have such specific vocalizations for different situations shows they have a sophisticated way of communicating with each other. These vocalizations help maintain group cohesion and warn others of threats – think of it as their own social network, but using sounds instead of messages!
This is the famous humming sound:
And this is an alarm sound: