The llama (Lama glama) is a camelid, a family that evolved originally in North America 40-50 million years ago. The term lama is sometimes used more broadly, to indicate any of the four closely related animals that make up the South American branch of the family Camelidae : the true llama, the vicuña , alpaca , and guanaco . They were used as a system of transportation for the Incas.
Differentiating characteristics between llamas and alpacas include the llama's larger size and longer head. Alpacas are sometimes considered to have more valuable fiber, as it is typically finer than that of a llama. Alpacas also tend to have darker fur than that of llamas. The most apparent visual difference between lamas and camels is that camels have a hump or humps and lamas do not.