Finally, we move on to the third camelid in our list. Under Inca rule it enjoyed unrivaled status: the spun fibre from its sheared fleece was so highly prized that only royalty was allowed to wear it . How about the relatively unknown vicuñas or guanacos? And just to put it in perspective: the price of 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of raw alpaca fiber is $12-$28, while the same amount of vicuña can be sold for $400-$600! Vicuna is a very graceful and soft mammal that resides in Western South America along with other members of the Camelidae family like the Camels, Llamas, Alpacas, Guanaco, etc. Royal Baby Alpaca. These animals are covered by a fine and warm coat that varies in color and protects them against cold temperatures. It's easy to tell apart an alpaca from a humped camel. Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna). All of these animals of the Andean landscape are Camelids which also includes camels. The Alpaca, the Llama, and the Vicuna are all ungulate (hoofed) camelid mammals. Y como ya hemos dicho, por su finura: mide entre 12 y … They are related to the Camel. That will easily set you back $4,000 and up for a scarf. Sheep’s wool). You could be forgiven for never having heard of a vicuña before now. ). The Alpaca, the Llama, and the Vicuna have soft sheep-like wool. Vicuña fibre is considered as the best in the world: very fine, soft and of superior quality (with a matching price tag! Nevertheless, it is a good idea to know a bit about them, just in case. Go shopping in person to examine these fine fabrics up close. El pelo de vicuña es tan apreciado por su calidez: las fibras tienen escamas que al hilarlas se entrelazan y aíslan el aire. When comparing alpaca to vicuña, it is obvious that the vicuña wins the softness-award. . Alpaca (Vicugna pacos). Royal Baby Alpaca is a category of Baby Alpaca, with fibres measuring less than 20 microns. The top-drawer pick is vicuña, from the rarefied endangered species. They are not the most talked about creature in the animal kingdom. The Alpaca has the second softest wool and the Vicuna has the softest wool. BUT do you know the difference between an alpaca and a llama? Alpaca clothes are known for being extremely warm, lightweight and soft; what is often forgotten is that alpaca clothing is durable, comfortable, and adaptable to every season. Vicuña. The vicuña is the smallest camelid on earth, a relative of the llama and suspected wild ancestor of the now-domesticated alpaca. You are not even likely to spot one on your journey. The Alpaca is 81-99 centimetres (32-39 inches) tall at the shoulders. Easily recognisable by its distinctive caramel colour and warm, pillow-like handle, Vicuña boasts a regal history spanning … Data sourced from: Bonny Doon Alpacas. Vicuña’s Characteristics. If you’re heading to an Andean country and fancy acquainting yourself with the native animals, don’t get caught out calling a vicuña a baby llama. Avoid the label of the ignorant tourist by getting familiar with the differences of Latin America’s indigenous, wide-spread and sometimes confusing camelid species: the llama, alpaca, vicuña and guanaco. Rich, lustrous Vicuña is the jewel in the crown of our fine fibre repertoire; the softest, most delicate wool in the world. Can you tell them apart? Vicuña. De este modo, como vemos, tanto la llama como la alpaca son camélidos sudamericanos, uno de los motivos por los cuales es difícil diferenciar a una llama de una alpaca. Since Baby Alpaca fibre is so expensive, it is often blended with other fabric (ie.