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Alarm Call
A sound which llamas, (usually the males) make when they
feel the herd is threatened. The sound is similar to an engine trying to
start or a turkey call.
Banana Ears
The term used to refer to an ear set in llamas
where the ears come up and curve inwards (similar to the shape and size of a
banana).
Berserk Male Syndrome
A condition where a male llama (and very rarely
female llamas) has
improperly imprinted on humans. The animal becomes physically aggressive towards people
when he reaches puberty. This behavior is usually not alterable once it begins.
Body Score
A numerical value from 1 to 9 given to a llama based on
how thin or fat it is. The optimal is assigned a 5. Emaciated
animals are assigned a 1 and obese animals are assigned a 9.
Cria
The term for a young llama from birth until it
is weaned.
Dam
The female parent of a llama.
Dung Pile
A designated area (usually decided upon by the llamas)
where they urinate and defecate. There are usually several dung piles within any
one field or pasture.
Dust Pile
A bare area on the ground which llamas use for
rolling.
Gait
A type of movement or locomotion. The gaits used by llamas
are walk, pace, trot,
gallop and pronk.
Gallop
A three-beated gait in which all four feet are never on
the ground together. This is the fastest camelid gait.
Herdsire
A male llama who is used to breed female llamas
on a farm. He may also be called a stud.
Humming
The predominant sound made by llamas. They hum
when they are tired, stressed, hot, uncomfortable, curious or concerned. There
are different types of hums for different causes.
Knock-kneed
A condition where the knees on the front legs
angle in towards each other. It is a conformational fault which causes
llamas to move incorrectly. Being knock-kneed leads to degenerative joint
disease in the future. The knock-kneed llamas will 'wing'
when they walk.
Kush
 The term for the act of a llama laying down with
its feet tucked under it or the actual position a llama is in when it is laying
down. It may also be used as a command to get a llama to attain this position.
Maiden Female
A female who has not been bred usually because
she is too young.
Open Female
A female who is not pregnant.
Orgling
A sound made by a male llama when aroused or
breeding a female. The sound is similar to gargling.
Overconditioned
The polite way of saying that a llama is
overweight or fat.
Pace
A two-beated gait in which the front
and rear limbs on the same side move forward or back at the same time. It is a
medium speed gait and is the least stable.
Packer
A llama who packs seriously with large loads for
longer distances. These llamas usually have light wool coverage and are bigger
in size.
Paddling
The term for a faulty movement of llamas. The
llama will swing its front feet out away from the body as it moves its leg
forward. It is usually caused by a chest which is too wide. Paddling can be
genetic, or more commonly from being overweight and having a wide chest with
excess fat present there.
Potty Pile
Another common term used for a
dung pile.
Pronking
A stiff-legged bouncing up into the air that both adult
and juvenile llamas do to play with each other or find and elude predators. It
is not performed often.
Rolling
An activity which llamas engage in regularly. Llamas lay
on their side and roll half-way or completely over several times. It is a way of
keeping their fiber open enough to create air pockets for insulation.
Sickle-hocked
A conformational fault in a llama where the hind
feet come too far forward. This creates a sickle shape to the hind end when
viewed from the side.
Sire
The male parent of a llama.
Stud
A male llama who is used to breed females. He
can also be called a herdsire.
Tipped ears
A
term used to refer to llamas with ears that are not completely erect. Usually
there is a small amount of cartilage at the tips of the ears which is not strong
enough to stand up on its own. This can be genetic or it can be the result of
prematurity or frostbite. It is not considered to be a major conformation fault.
Topline
A common term used to refer to a llama's back,
usually as viewed from the side. A level topline is desired from the
whithers to the tail.
Trot
A two-beated gait in which the
diagonal front and rear limbs move forward or back at the same time. It is a
medium speed gait which is more stable.
Underconditioned
A term used to describe a llama who is underweight or too
thin.
Walk
A four-beated gait which maintains
three feet in contact with the ground at any one time. This is the slowest of
the llama gaits.
Weanling
A llama who has been weaned from the mother but
is under one year of age.
Winging
The term used for a faulty movement of llamas.
As the llama moves a front foot forward, it will swing the front feet in towards
the midline and then back out away from the body before placing it back down.
This is usually associated with knock-kneed llamas
and will be more pronounced with severely knock-kneed
llamas.
Withers
The
part of the llama where the back and shoulders meet the neck.
Yearling
A llama who is one year of age but not yet two
years of age.
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