Camelid
Camelids are a group of even-toed ungulate mammals. They form the family Camelidae. There are six living species of camelids.
Taxonomy
Camelidae
Genus Lama
Llama, Lama glama
Guanaco, Lama guanicoe
Genus: Vicugna
Vicuna, Vicugna vicugna
Alpaca, Vicugna pacos, formerly Lama pacos
Genus Camelus
Dromedary, Camelus dromedarius
Bactrian Camel, Camelus bactrianus
The animals of the genus Camelus are also called Afro-Asiatic Camelids. The animals of the genus Lama and genus Vicugna are also called South American Camelids.
Hybrid
There also exists a camelid hybrid called a Cama. It is the child of a female Llama and a male Dromedary Camel. The Cama does not exist in nature, but is "made" by humans through artificial insemination (that means the sperm is artificially put into the female).
Habitat
The two Camelus species originally lived in northern Africa, south-west and eastern Asia. The other four camelids lived in South America.
Camelids and humans
Camelids have been domesticated by humans for about 5000 years. They have been important for transport, but were also kept for wool, meat and milk. The llama and alpaca were very important for the South American cultures, like the Inca. The camels were used by people in north Africa and Asia, especially in deserts.