Medicine’s Newest Tiny Heroes Did you know that alpacas are becoming unexpected stars in medical research? While these gentle animals are famous for their soft fiber, they’re now making headlines in laboratories worldwide for a completely different reason: their unique antibodies. Unlike regular antibodies, alpacas produce incredibly small ones called “nanobodies” that have special powers…

Baby Alpaca Academy Did you know that baby alpacas (crias) have a special window of learning when it comes to food? Scientists have discovered that around three months of age is a crucial time for these youngsters to learn about what to eat. Unlike llamas, who are more adventurous eaters, alpacas can be quite picky…

Innovation in Cria Care Here’s an inspiring story of how modern science is helping ancient animals: While alpaca babies (crias) are naturally tough, scientists have found a remarkably simple way to help them survive their first critical months. In a study, researchers discovered that using simple thermal vests on newborn crias led to an impressive…

The Independent Newborns Here’s a surprising fact about alpaca babies: unlike most mammal mothers who spend lots of time cleaning and grooming their newborns, alpaca moms take a completely different approach! When a cria (baby alpaca) is born, the mother doesn’t clean it at all – the baby has to dry itself off on its…

The Blue-Eyed Mystery Here’s a fascinating genetic puzzle from the world of alpacas: when these animals have both white fleece and blue eyes (known as the BEW phenotype), about 80% of them are deaf! This isn’t just a random coincidence – it’s actually related to how certain cells develop during the early stages of life.…

The Gender Vision Gap Here’s a surprising discovery from the world of camelids: female and male llamas actually see the world differently! Scientists have found that female llamas tend to be more nearsighted than their male counterparts. While we don’t fully understand why this gender difference exists, it might be related to the different roles…

Vision Quest Did you know that llamas and alpacas, despite being close relatives, actually see the world quite differently? Scientists have discovered that llamas are slightly nearsighted and have some astigmatism (meaning their cornea has an irregular shape), while alpacas have almost perfect vision. But here’s the really fascinating part: both species share a unique…

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”…

Smart Problem Solvers Did you know that alpacas might actually be more cognitively flexible than horses, donkeys, mules and dogs? When scientists tested them with a spatial problem-solving task, alpacas showed a surprising ability to adapt when conditions changed. In an experiment where animals had to find a gap in a barrier to reach a…

Feeding Finesse In contrast to most grazing animals like sheep or cattle, alpacas have developed a unique and precise way of feeding. While other grazers use their tongues to wrap around grass and pull it into their mouths, alpacas rarely stick out their tongues at all. Instead, they rely on their mobile, highly sensitive split…