Fiber & shearing

How many types of alpacas are there?

A

Short answer

There are two types: huacaya (about 90%), with fluffy crimpy fleece, and suri (about 10%), with long silky locks.

Huacaya (wah-KI-yah) alpacas look like teddy bears: their dense, crimpy fleece stands out from the body. Suri (SUR-ee) alpacas grow long, lustrous locks that hang down like dreadlocks.

Both are the same species and can interbreed, though breeders keep them separate to maintain fleece type. Within both types alpacas come in 20+ natural colors.

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