Descriptive language and its elements.

1. Llamas

2. Llamas
Name __________________________
Date __________________________
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3. Llamas
The first thing to know about llamas is that all llamas are lamas, but not all lamas
are llamas. Lama, with only one 'l' is the group name for the animals that include
alpaca, vicuna, guanaco, and llama (with two ll).
Millions of years ago, in the upper part of North America, there were small herds of camellike animals. At that time, the continents of North America and Asia were connected by a land
bridge. The land bridge later became the Bering Strait. Today, the Bering Strait is between
Alaska and Siberia. The strait separates North America from Asia. It is about 50 miles or
80km wide. Some of the camel-like herds crossed the bridge and moved slowly southeast
across the land. They settled in middle Asia and North Africa. These animals grew humps and
became what we now call camels.
The rest of the camel-like animals migrated south through the Americas.
They relocated to South America to the countries we now call Bolivia, Peru,
and Chile. These animals never grew humps. They are shorter than their
cousins, the camel, and have longer hair.
herds
bridge
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camel
1
humps
hair
migrated
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4. Llamas
About six thousand years ago, the llama, vicuna, and alpaca were domesticated by the native
people of the Andes. The people became known as the Incas. To domesticate an animal means
to tame them.
The llamas were raised in herds. They were used to carry loads of food, fuel, and goods for
the markets. The llamas were also used to carry gold and silver from the mines.
The alpaca and vicuna were also raised in herds. They were raised
mostly for the value of their hair. The hair of the alpaca and vicuna was
only used for the royalty and priests. The alpaca and vicuna were too
small to do all the work the llamas were capable of doing.
Read the words below. look up and write the definition for them on the lines.
1. domesticate ______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. royalty __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Incas ____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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5. Llamas
The Incas did not use the llama just to carry things. The meat was good to
eat. The skin made nice leather for tents, clothes, and shoes. The hair of the
llama was also used to make clothing. The common people had their clothes
made from llama hair.
The hair of a lama can be shaved off once or twice a year. A llama does not
like to be sheared, or shaved. If the llama is not shaved, the hair will fall off in clumps.
Alpaca and vicuna hair is very soft and costs more than llama hair. It is cleaned and spun just
like the wool we get from sheep.
Some people are allergic to something that is in the wool of sheep. It is
called lanolin. Llama hair has no lanolin or natural oils. Most people are not
allergic to the hair of the llama. Llama hair is softer and easier to spin than the
wool of the sheep. It does not shrink when washed. Llama hair comes in
colors from white to black with many shades of brown and gray.
Read the words below. look up and write the definition for them on the lines.
1. The hair of the llama can be shaved ________________________ a year.
2. Llama hair is softer than the wool of the ________________________________.
3. Many people are ________________ to the wool of a sheep.
4. The hair of the llama has no ________________ or natural oils.
5. Some people are allergic to something in the _______________________ of the sheep.
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6. Llamas
Facts About Llamas
A llama’s baby is
called a cria. They
usually have only one.
The life span of a
llama is about
15 to 30 year.
Did You Know... Most llamas
can usually carry 25 to 30
percent of their body weight.
Usually up to 80 pounds.
Llamas are very
intelligent and
easy to train.
Llamas have a
three-compartment
stomach.
The height of a llama is
usually between 36” to
47” at the shoulder. They
can range 5 feet to 6.5 feet
at the head.
Llama weigh
between 200 and
400 pounds.
Llama are members of the
camel (camelid) family.
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7. Llamas
Male llamas are called bucks or sires. A female who has never had a baby is
called a maiden. A mother llama is a dam. Baby llama are called cria. It takes
almost a year for a llama to be born. They are usually born in the daytime and are
able to run by nighttime. Llama babies have to be fast in case they were hunted in
the wild. Crias weigh about 20 to 35 pounds when they are born. The average
adult llamas grow to weigh between 250 to 400 pounds. The average height is
usually between five feet to six and one half feet at the head.
Llamas and their relatives do ruminate. To ruminate means to chew food that is partially
digested. They regurgitate it and chew it again. Llamas have a three compartment stomach.
They chew their food in several different stages. They store it in one stomach. They bring it
back into their mouth to chew whenever they want.
Llamas will bring food back up to spit. They will spit at another llama when they are mad,
or at an enemy. Llamas do not like to spit because the taste is bad. They will first try spitting
air.
Llamas are very intelligent. They are easy to train.
Llamas are excellent pack animals.
Llamas are very healthy animals and usually disease free.
Read each sentence below. Circle true or false.
1, Mother llamas are called dames.
true
false
2. Llamas spit at other llamas when they are happy.
true
false
3.Llama have two compartments in their stomachs.
true
false
4. Baby llamas are called criers.
true
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false
5
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8. Llamas
Most llamas are stay in small herds. These herds started in the wild because food was hard
to find. It is easier to search for food, eating a little here and there with a small herd.
The llama manure pellets are used for fuel and fertilizer. Llamas use one area for their
pellets when they are in a herd. This is another thing they learned when they were wild. A
predator could not hunt for them by sniffing for pellets.
Llamas make some very unusual sounds. Mothers and crias will hum to each
other. It is a soft, calming sound. Males will snort to tell another animal to go
away. They make an “orgle” sound when they see a female they like. The males
will scream when their family is in danger or when in a fight with another male.
Color the picture.
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9. Llamas
Llamas almost never run. They will walk at different speeds from an amble to a fast trot.
When they are happy and full of energy, the young ones will pronk. Pronk is bouncing up and
down with all four feet together like a hairy pogo stick. Sometimes the older llamas join in.
When llamas are resting they usually tuck all four legs under their body. This is called the
“kush” position. They will travel in the backs of vans and pick-up trucks in the “kush”
position.
Llamas used in North America are usually for recreational reasons. They are very popular
for carrying tents and backpacks when people go hiking. The feet of the llamas are small and
soft. The llamas do not damage the plants like a horse or donkey. They will browse for food as
they travel so no food is needed for them. Like their cousins the camels, they need very little
water. An adult llama can carry about 120 pounds of gear. If they think the packs are too
heavy or if they are tired, they will go to “kush” and refuse to move.
Help the children get to the Llama.
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10. Llamas
Llamas can be used to pull small carts. The harness and cart must be built
just for them. The carts can carry things or people. They can pull a cart with
two adult people in it.
Llamas have become very popular to replace dogs as guards for flocks of
sheep and goats. They eat the same food as the animals they protect. If their scream does not
chase away a predator, they will use their feet and teeth to fight. Llamas become protective of
their flocks.
Llamas have a gentle nature and are calm animals. They are now being used at hospitals,
homes for disabled children, and nursing care centers. They are fun to look at. Llamas have
soft hair, large brown or blue eyes. They are quiet, and have common sense. Llamas make
great therapy animals. They seem to know when someone is hurting, needs special care, or
companionship.
Read the questions below. Circle the correct answer and write it on the lines.
1. Llamas are ______________________ and have common sense.
loud
quiet
2. Llamas can pull a cart with _____________________________ people in it.
forty
two
3.Llamas become protective of their ______________________________.
food
flocks
4. Llamas have ________________________ hair and brown or blue eyes.
sticky
soft
5. Llamas make great _________________________________ animals.
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therapy
rodeo
8
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11. Llamas
Llamas are very inexpensive to keep. They do not require much water.
Llamas do not need to be bathed. They eat low vegetation and shrubs. If they do
not have a large field they can be fed hay and grain. Llamas cost less to feed
than other animals their size. They eat as much in one week as a horse does in
one day.
Llamas do not carry any diseases that they can give to other animals. They do
not get fleas, but will become ill from tick bites.
Llamas are a clean, friendly, hardy, and useful animal. They have been helpful and
companions to humans for over six thousand years and will gladly continue to do so.
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12. Llamas
Spelling
Print the correct spelling word on the line.
1.
llama
lalma
llana
_______________________
2.
canel
camel
carmil
_______________________
3.
damestic
domistic
domestic
_______________________
4.
wool
woal
woll
_______________________
5.
alpeca
alpaca
alpica
_______________________
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13. Llamas
Word Unscramble
Unscramble each word. Print the word on the line.
1. lmaal
_______________
2. mcale
_______________
3. tcisedmo
_______________
4. owlo
_______________
5. paclaa
_______________
6. ndemai
_______________
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14. Llamas
Word Find
Find and circle these words.
They run down, across, and diagonally.
llama
weaving
tallow
braided
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coats
wool
spitting
flock
12
alpaca
candles
mutton
surefooted
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15. Llamas
Criss Cross
Can you fit these words into the criss cross?
Use a pencil so you can erase if you need to.
hair
camel
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sheep
wool
vicuna
alpaca
13
highlands
llama
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16. Answers
Page 10 - llama, camel, domestic, wool, alpaca
Page 11 - llama, camel, domestic, alpaca, maiden
Page 12 -
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