Origen
A typical inhabitant of the Andes, the South American camelid has for the past 5,000 years served as a source of clothing, cargo and food. Moreover, the animal is a quintessential part of the character of the Andean highlands and has wielded a major influence on the serene and contemplative idiosyncrasy of its tamers. Their origins, however, stem from distant-lands: it is believed that millions of years ago the camelid family inhabited what is now North America. At some point in time, a group immigrated to Alaska and then over to Siberia, giving rise to the present-day Indo-European camel. Another group simultaneously emigrated south, discovering an ideal habitat in the central Andes of South America.

Each of the four species of Andean camelid ─whose identical number of chromosomes make it possible to cross species─ has developed its own characteristics. The llama, which is the strongest of the species, is appreciated both as a pack animal (carrying up to 60 kg or 132 lbs) and as a good source of food, standing around 1.90 meters or 6.3 ft tall. The llama is one of the two species of Andean camelid that has been domesticated. Its fleece comes in a variety of colors. Its fiber, however, is less dense than that of the alpaca and somewhat coarser.

World known for the quality of its fleece, the alpaca is smaller and has a more curved silhouette than the llama, while its forehead features a classic tuft of fiber and abundant fiber throughout its whole body. The alpaca has large expressive eyes. Like the llama, the alpaca has also been domesticated. Its fiber comes in a broad spectrum of colors, more than any other livestock, and is highly appreciated in the textile industry due to its unique qualities. The alpaca stands 1.50 meters or 5 ft tall, with a weight of about 150 to 200 pounds, and can live 20 years or more.

The vicuña, which is the smallest of these species standing at barely 1.30 meters or 4 ft tall, runs wild and moves its graceful body with agility. The fur is light brown along the back and nearly all over the outer body. The chest, stomach and inside legs are pure white. Its fiber has been classified as the finest animal fiber on Earth. It is in such demand that poachers have driven it to the verge of extinction. Today, the vicuña is protected by the Peruvian State and lives in natural reserves, mainly in the highlands of Arequipa and Puno.

Finally, the guanaco is the wildest of the Andean camelids, standing around 1.80 meters or 6ft tall, and is mainly found in the highlands of Argentina and Chile.