Alpaca

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alpaca

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Vicugna pacos
2. What is the conservation status?Least Concern
3. How do alpacas stay warm in the Andes?Alpacas have thick, dense fleece that keeps them warm, and their blood has lots of red cells to get oxygen from thin air.
4. Why are alpaca fibers special?Alpaca wool is softer, lighter, and warmer than sheep wool, and it doesn’t have lanolin, so it’s good for people with allergies.

Camelid: A member of the family Camelidae, which includes camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos.
Micron: A unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter, used to measure the fineness of animal fibers.
Lanolin: A natural wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals, particularly sheep, known for its moisturizing properties but can cause allergies.