Whether wandering around the home pasture or looking gorgeous in tassels for the local parade llamas have a dignified beauty and aristocratic air.

Llamas come in many natural fleece colours, ranging from white to black with shades of grey, red, brown and roan. Many shades of brown exist ranging from light beige to dark chocolate. True black with no brown tones is rare, as is a true grey. Markings and patterns may vary from solid to multi colour and llamas may also carry an appaloosa colour with spots on all or part of the body.

Mature llamas weigh an average of 125-160kg, but may range from 110-225kg. They reach full body size by their fourth year, the males tending to be slightly larger on average than the females. The normal life span is around 15-20 years.

Llamas are multi-stomached ruminants and chew their cud. They do not have front top teeth but instead, a hard pad of gum, with grinding upper and lower molars at the back. A split upper lip grasps forage with the lower incisors. Adult males develop "fighting teeth" - large, sharp upper and lower canines. For safety reasons the Vet may saw these off with obstetric wire.

Llamas have specially adapted feet making them both sure-footed and environmentally sound. They are not hard hoofed like horses but have soft, leathery pads and two toes with curved nails on each foot. They have very little impact on the ground making them exceptional walking or hiking companions.

Their natural curiosity and tractable natures make llamas delightful to own. They do not spook easily and are gentle with children and the elderly. Spitting is natural behaviour amongst llamas, for as well as being the female's way of telling the male she is pregnant, it is also used in food disputes as a means of saying "Go Away". Although used and accepted between llamas, spitting is rarely directed at humans. Llamas are highly social animals and for this reason prefer the companionship of another llama or at least other livestock.

Llamas communicate with a variety of different signals including tail, body and ear postures as well as vocalizations. Humming is the common method of communication between llamas and can mean anything from contentedness to irritability and boredom. Once you own a llama it is very easy to distinguish the manner and mood from the body signals given. Llamas also have a high pitched, rhythmic alarm call used to alert the herd to anything strange and the males have an "orgling" sound used during mating.

Llamas are naturally clean animals and their manure is surprisingly odourless. They will use communal toilet areas and you can quite easily "bait" four or five areas where you wish the herd to deposit their manure. This communal toileting is also effective in reducing the risk of parasite infection, as llamas prefer not to graze where there is manure.