Alpaca - Evolution to the Modern Animal

From Fossils to the Farm

Alpaca Origins

The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated member of the camelid family (Camelidae) which also includes camels, llamas, guanacos, and vicuñas.
Their evolution started during the Eocene Period (56 to 33.9 million years ago) when a forest-dwelling rabbit-sized ancestor (Protylopus) first appeared in the subtropical forests of North America. By 35 million years ago, a goat-sized intermediate form (Poebrotherium) had evolved which then diversified into more than 20 genera [1]. The largest of these was Titanotylopus which stood an average height of 3.5 metres at the withers, weighed around 2500kg and like the modern camels, had a hump for fat storage. At least one genus, including Hemiauchenia, spread southwards to reach South America (during the Great American Biotic Interchange) whilst others traveled across the Bering Strait to reach Eurasia. As a result, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) are found in South America whereas the three species of camel (Dromedary, Bactrian and wild Bactrian) are now found in Africa and Asia. In South America, The split between the genera Lama and Vicugna is believed to have occurred between 2 and 3 million years ago.
North American camelids became extinct around 12,000 years ago. Human migration from Asia is likely responsible for their extermination due to over-hunting although climate change may have also contributed.

The alpaca is the domesticated form of the vicuña, selectively bred by Inca peoples between 6,000 and 7,000 years ago in the high-altitude regions of the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes [52]. These animals were highly prized by Andean civilizations, not only for their exceptionally fine fibre, regarded as a luxury reserved for royalty, but also as a reliable source of meat, dung (for fuel), and hides.

Due to interbreeding between the the guanaco and vicuña and later decimation of their numbers by the Spanish conquistadores, it was widely assumed that both llamas and alpacas were domesticated from the guanaco. This was due to their similar morphological characteristics and the disruption caused by Spanish colonization, which led to widespread interbreeding and a sharp decline in camelid populations. However, genetic analysis [11] demonstrated conclusively that the alpaca is descended from the vicuña and not the guanaco.

A very recent and comprehensive whole-genome sequencing study [25] confirmed this ancestry. By analyzing the genomes of llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas, the research uncovered significant levels of genetic introgression (the transfer of genetic material across species via hybridization followed by backcrossing). Remarkably, the alpaca genome contains 36% introgressed guanaco DNA, whereas the llama genome shows only 5%. This increase in cross-species mixing appears to correlate with the period of the Spanish conquest (1532–1572), a time of massive upheaval in indigenous societies. The collapse of traditional breeding and herd management practices led to uncontrolled interbreeding between domestic and wild camelids.

Following the conquest, the surviving Inca communities took refuge with their alpacas in remote Andean regions such as the Altiplano where the animals were able to survive the harsh, high-altitude conditions. These regions remain as the primary stronghold of alpaca farming, with Peru having around 90% of the global alpaca population.

South American camelids are quite capable of producing viable offspring across species boundaries. For example, crossing a llama and an alpaca produces a Huarizo, a hybrid that tends to have the size and strength of a llama with the fleece characteristics of an alpaca. Similarly, mating an alpaca with a vicuña yields a Paco-vicuña, which more resembles the vicuña. This particular cross is of commercial interest due to its ultra-fine fleece (13–17 microns) and longer staple length, offering a balance between fleece quality and fibre yield that is more sustainable than harvesting pure vicuña wool.

Despite clear differences in size, morphology, and habitat preferences between the Old World camels (the dromedary and Bactrian camels) and the New World camelids (llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas), all species share the same diploid chromosome number of 2n = 74. Their chromosomal structures are also highly conserved, supporting the theory of a shared North American ancestor and the close genetic relationships within the Camelidae family, even after millions of years of divergent evolution.

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• 736 Papaiti Road,
  R.D. 14,
  Wanganui,
  New Zealand.

Directions - Once in Wanganui, drive up Somme Parade and when it becomes Papaiti Road (just past the cemetery), travel a further 7.4km alongside the river. We are the first house on the right with a large white letterbox and sign for the farm. On Google Maps we are shown as 'Te Korito Alpacas'.