Phenotypic Appearance

The llama should display a distinctive presence, possessing and demonstrating structural balance.  Females should exhibit an elegant profile; males should exhibit a more masculine profile.  When on the move and viewed from the front and rear, the llama should track with a  natural, smooth gait, in a sagittal plane, while displaying balance and ample body width for its size, structure and age.  The fiber may be traditional, silky or suri with coverage from minimal to heavy.  An adult llama (fours years or older) should be a minimum of 40” at the withers and weigh between 300 and 400 hundred pounds.

Conformation Breed Standard

Head & Ears
The head should be in proportion with the overall symmetry and structure of the llama, may be refined in style (F), or more masculine (M), and exhibit a tapered muzzle (broad wedge shape) when viewed from the side. Viewed from the front, the muzzle width and length should maintain facial balance.  The muzzle should have two prominent nasal openings, centered at the front of muzzle, proportion in size and in aligned balance with the overall head structure.

The llama head should have two eyes that maintain a horizontal line across the forehead from each other with ample width so as to maintain geometrical head balance and not restrict the near 360 degree vision of the llama.  The eye should be bold, round, clear, dark in color with eye lashes and firm eyelids, demonstrating no signs of entropion (rolling in) or ectropion (rolling out).

The ears should sit high and upright on the head with a slight tilt toward the muzzle, facing forward, and should have the ability to rotate individually and have a natural inward curve toward the forehead.  Placement of the ears on the llama head should be of such width as to resemble the hands of a clock pointing at 11 and 1 and be of individual length and width that maintain the head's symmetrical balance while adhering to the llama phenotype.

The head should remain relatively stationary when the llama is on the move.

Bite

For the llama's age, the bite should show appropriate length of teeth with full enamel coverage.  There should be six incisors at adulthood, and they should align evenly from side to side and make contact with the front of the upper palate (dental pad) just below the rosteral edge.  The upper palate should be rounded and follow the contour of the muzzle.  The upper palate should sit snuggly against the incisors when the mouth is closed.  There should be eight molars, four on top and four on bottom, at adulthood, and the upper and lower molars within the jaw should make aligned contact when the mouth is closed.  There should be six canine (fighting) teeth, (preferably removed at adulthood), two top and one bottom on each side at the front of the upper and lower jaws.  The top and a bottom lips should make aligned contact at the center of the front of the muzzle.  The teeth should not protrude outside the mouth at closure.

Neck

The neck should be a two thirds the length of body and maintain its one third proportionate allotment of balance to the body and legs.  The neck should be of sufficient length to maintain a harmonious structural balance with the head, body and legs.  The neck should be carried erect and upright when the llama is on the move.  It should blend smoothly into the back of the poll on one end and blend smoothly, with a slight dip, into the withers and shoulder area on the other end.

Body

The llama’s body should be a third longer than the neck and legs and maintain visual, structural balance with the other parts of the llama.  The chest and breast area should be firm and of sufficient width and length for the llama’s size and age, blend smoothly into the shoulder and not interfere with the natural gate of the llama.  The rib area should be of sufficient size in its length, width and capacity, for its age, to maintain overall lung, digestive and reproductive capacity.  

The rump structure should have a slight natural curvature to the pelvis area allowing the hooks and pins to align properly and blend smoothly into the thighs, aiding in the llama’s natural gait. 

Top Line and Tail Set

When viewed from the side, the top line should appear relatively level starting at the rump structure and ending at the withers.  The top line should have a natural rise to the spine at the shoulders, tapering to a very slight downward curve along the back and rise slightly again into the top of the loin.  The rump structure and pelvis area should allow for the tail to protrude perpendicular out of the spinal area.  The tail head should protrude from the dorsal within the pelvis slightly below and parallel to the loin.  The tail should protrude from straight out of the tail head with no angulations, twist, or kinks and should ride high and in line with the spinal column when erect. The tail and top line should remain relatively stationary when on the move.

Front Legs 

Viewed from the front, the front legs should be relatively straight from the point of the shoulder through the foot pads, and the toes should point forward.  A slight toeing out is acceptable, since the llama’s natural gait is a pace.  Shoulder width should be maintained with an inside plane from the shoulder to the knees and straight from the knees through the feet.  Viewed on the move from the front, the front legs should move forward freely, with all parts working in sync and each leg tracking in a straight forward line with the toes pointing relatively forward.

Viewed from the side, the front legs should face forward and maintain a relatively straight plane from the point of the elbow through the forearm, elbow and fetlock.  Viewed on the move from the side, the front legs should move freely, with all parts moving in sync and maintaining a natural, fluid movement from the shoulder through the feet.  The size of the front legs (length and width, including bones, tendons and muscles) should be in geometrical proportion with other body parts.  The pastern should blend smoothly into the fetlock and shank.

Rear Legs

Viewed from the rear, the rear legs should be relatively straight from the pelvis through the stifle, hocks, fetlocks, pasterns and on through the feet and pads, with the toes pointing forward.  Pelvis width should be maintained with an inside plane from the pelvis to the stifle and straight from the stifle through the feet.

Viewed from the side, the rear legs should point forward, maintaining proper angulations as to allow for a visual straight line to be drawn from the point of the hip through the rear of the hock and on to the ground directly behind the pad.  The pastern should blend smoothly into the fetlock and shank.

When viewed on the move from the rear, the rear legs should move freely, with all parts moving in sync and each leg tracking forward in a straight line with the toes pointing forward.  When viewed on the move from the side, the rear legs should move freely, with all parts moving in sync and maintaining a natural, fluid movement from the pelvis through the feet.  The size of the rear legs (length and width, including bones, tendons and muscles) should be in geometrical proportion with other body parts.

Feet and Pasterns

Both front feet should be of equal size, and both rear feet should be of equal size.  All feet, for the age of the llama, should be in geometrical proportion with the other body parts and cause the llama to stand square and balanced on all four corners.  The pasterns should blend smoothly into the shank and the fetlock at a 60 degree angle and should be upright, firm and without tendon weakness.  The pasterns should be balanced in size, both length and width, with the other parts of the leg.  The pad should cover only the bottom portion of the foot, be smooth and without defects.  Each foot must have two toes that point forward, with each toe having a toenail that is straight and centered on the toe.  Toenails should be without twists or turns and should not protrude downward past the foot pad. 

Genitalia and Teats

Female should have the vulva centered vertically to the pelvis.  It should be balanced in height and width for the size and age of the llama.  The llama should have four teats of symmetrical size and distance apart and be of sufficient length and width for the size and age of the llama.

Male must have only two side-by-side testicles that are bilaterally symmetrical and of firm consistency, one penis located in the sheath on the ventral midline and four teats.  All should be in geometrical proportion for the size and age of the llama.

Movement

When viewed from the rear, the llama should move in a sagittal plane (square/parallel -giving the visual effect of being unable to see the front legs), with the rear legs and feet following the same line as the front legs and feet.  The tail, top-line, neck and head should follow a center plane and have no sway vertically or horizontally.

When viewed on the move from the side, the rear feet and legs should track on the same line as the front legs.  Rear feet placement should stop - but not past - the track the front feet had just occupied.  There should be no exaggerated (vertically or horizontally) movement to the top line, neck or head.  The llama’s gait should exhibit no stiffness, jerkiness, or restrictions of any type.

When viewed on the move from the front, the llama should move in a sagittal plane (square/parallel – giving the visual effect of being unable to see the rear legs) with the rear legs and feet following the same line as the front legs and feet. The head, neck and chest area should remain on center plane with no vertical or lateral sway at a walk, pace or gallop.