When To Hold 'Em and When Best To Fold 'Em
Alpaca and Llama Spitting Behavior

By Cathy Spalding
www.gentlespiritllamas.com
www.gentlespiritalpacas.com

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This photo captures just how miserable an alpaca can feel immediately following a stomach contents spit. Llamas feel just as miserable. The lower lip is drooping, the ears hang at half-mast and the nostrils are somewhat flared. Notice the look in the eye and the sagging eyelids. There is an appearance of disconnect to the surroundings as this alpaca seems to focus on how she is feeling at the moment.

In the next photos, a male alpaca has chosen a leaf as a sort of “breath mint” after a stomach contents spit. In the first photo, he has just secured the leaf. He still looks miserable. His lower lip is drooping, his nostrils are flared, his ears hang at half-mast and his eyes are dulled with eyelids sagging. He appears a bit withdrawn and disconnected from his surroundings.

In the second photo of this same alpaca a short time later, notice that he is beginning to perk up. Still in recovery, he continues to hold the leaf in his mouth. However, he is feeling much better. His lower lip is beginning to return to a more proper positioning and his ears have come forward. His nostrils do not appear flared. His eyes and overall body stance now appear more interested and connected with his surroundings.

We can learn a great deal by closely observing a potentially serious stomach contents spit situation with our animals.

The white alpaca is quite serious in her statements to the fawn alpaca. So serious, in fact, that she would appear just moments from backing it up with a hearty spit of stomach contents. Notice her body language and the combination of cues coming together for this expression of anger or upset. The neck is outstretched, the nose is up and the ears are nearly pinned. While not looking straight on at her opponent, she is looking more directly than the recipient. She is not quite yet lined up physically in a balanced body position for a good stomach contents spit. She is, however, surely warning that it is a definite possibility.

Notice the recipient of her aggression. She is well aware of the situation but for the moment has decided to lower her head and look away. Her eyes are drooped and she shows signs of muscle tension in her face. Her body is out of balance. Her combined behavioral stances come together to give her a softer and more subordinate look.

Moments later, the situation has escalated. The white alpaca has shifted herself to a near front on position and balanced herself fairly squarely on all fours. She has brought her neck up, pinning her ears and straightening her esophagus. She has not yet spit but is at the ready needing only to perhaps lift her nose slightly higher. It would appear the recipient would still hope to avoid an all out confrontation. While moving closer into a defensive spit position by raising her nose, she remains off balance. In fact, she has not even moved her feet. While she has raised her nose, her neck remains lowered in a more submissive position and she does not make eye contact with her aggressor. Even so, she has escalated and lost some of her softer, more subordinate look. While certainly aware of the situation, the other alpacas are not getting involved.

It is interesting to consider the so often-heard advice: “Don’t look them in the eye.” Alpacas and llamas look at one another constantly. We look at them… they look back… nothing happens. In understanding alpaca and llama behavior, perhaps we can take our cue for the instance when it is likely not appropriate for us to look them in the eye. The recipient in this potential spit match is surely providing the cues for us. When an alpaca or llama is moving into a stomach contents spit posturing, it seems wise to soften our body, perhaps turn sideways to them and, in this particular instance, it seems clear… “Don’t look them in the eye!”

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