Two Distinct Alpaca Breeds

Suri alpacas possess a lustrous coat that hangs close to the body in round ringlets.  the quality of fleece is not measured by volume, but by handle.  Slippery, almost greasy locks are a more desirable coat, and often cause the alpaca to appear smaller than it actually is.  

Huacaya alpacas grown soft bunches of crimped fleece from individual follicles.  The fleece is never dry and flaky, but rather rich and dense in texture.  Unlike the Suri, the Huacaya appears to be larger because the fleece grows perpendicular to the body in uniform bundles.