Alpaca, a species of the genus lama of Fr. Cuvier (properly llama), and auchenia of Illiger, which with the genus camelus constitutes the family of camelidae, of the order of bisulca ruminantia. The alpaca is found in the mountainous regions of Peru, and subsists on the coarse and scanty forage which grows on the sterile soil of that quarter. The upper part and the sides of the body of this animal are covered with light chestnut-brown wool, which hangs down in slightly curled meshes nearly a foot in length, and is very soft and elastic, almost as line as that of the Cashmere goat; the face up to the posterior margin of the jaws, and also the legs, have short, smooth hair; from the forehead a stiff silky hair falls down upon the face. The shearing of the wool takes place at irregular times annually or biennially. From 10 to 12 lbs. are obtained from one animal.