Alpacas!

Alpacas (Vicugna pacos) are ruminants from the camel family, but unlike camels, they are native to North America and later migrated to South America (where they are now an important economic source of fiber and pack animals).  They can live to be about twenty years old in captivity, and their gestation period is about eleven months.  Babies are born weighing sixteen to twenty pounds, but this weight will increase by a factor of ten by the time that they are fully grown.

Baby alpacas are called crias.

Om nom nom.

Alpacas were first domesticated in South America about 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, and since then artificial selection has caused them to be very friendly to humans and to produce soft fleece for clothing.  Alpacas differ from llamas in that llamas were bred to be strong for physical labor, while alpacas are smaller and as a result were used for their fleece alone.  Contrary to popular belief, alpacas usually do not spit; only a pregnant female will spit to indicate her disinterest in an advancing male.  Alpacas are very environmentally friendly due to their light grazing and gentle feet, and their fertilizer is very useful for agricultural purposes.

Alpaca fleece comes in many different colors.  These particular alpacas are looking at some cows that had just been introduced to a neighboring pasture.

References: http://www.aragonalpacas.com/alpaca_info.htm

http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/exotic/alpaca.txt