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(countable noun) Usage note: This is the usual term used by all speakers.
A woolly mammal, like a sheep with a very long neck, originally from South America. People farm alpacas for their wool. Alpacas are about 1 metre tall at the shoulder and about 1.5 metres tall at the top of their heads.
Example: The New South Wales alpaca industry is growing. It is based mainly in Wellington, Yass, Young and Berrima. There are 12,782 registered alpacas, which are currently reared mostly for their wool. (http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LA20021120)
A man with a prize-winning alpaca at the Royal Adelaide Show
(photo by Julia Miller)