Alex Lancaster explains just why llamas and alpacas spit <\/p>
Thanks to internet stardom and petting zoos, most people know about these South American camelids \u2013 and their spitting habit. To deploy this defensive mechanism, a llama or alpaca regurgitates its stomach contents and propels the mixture up to 10m.<\/span><\/p>\n Spitting is mostly used as a warning to other members of the same species. A female llama may spit at a male during the breeding season to repel his advances. <\/span><\/p>\n An alpaca may warn a fellow herd member away if it thinks they might be about to steal its food. Males also use spitting as part of their repertoire of fighting moves when competing for females. <\/span><\/p>\n Like us, llamas and alpacas have different personalities, and the grumpier individuals are the most likely to spit. There are tell-tale warning signs auguring an outburst. First, the animal will flatten back its ears or aggressively puff air from its nostrils. <\/span><\/p>\n If you still haven\u2019t got the hint, it will likely tip its chin back while leaning forward. This is your final chance to clear the area \u2013 in the next second or two, you might be covered with a foul-smelling mixture of gastric juice and undigested plant material.<\/span><\/p>\nWhy do llamas and alpacas spit?<\/h2>\n