Spitting

Llamas have been plagued with the unfair reputation of spitting. It is true that they spit, but not under the conditions that most people imagine. The vast majority of llamas spit only at other llamas and not at people. There are some llamas, especially at petting zoos, which have been deliberately imprinted on
As an initial warning, a llama will put its ears back.
people. These llamas see humans as if they were another llama and have no qualms about spitting on a person who might invade their space. A properly trained and socialized llama will not spit at people at any time, even during veterinary procedures. Most llama owners only meet with spit when they get caught in the crossfire of llamas spitting at each other.

Spitting is used by llamas to settle arguments, establish dominance and pecking order, tell males that females are pregnant, discipline crias and express fear or discomfort.
The head up in a more severe threat.
Llamas do not spit without some type of warning which can be easily read by a person or another llama. As an initial warning, a llama will put its ears back. If challenged further, a llama will pin its ears back very tightly and tilt its head back so that the nose is pointed up in the air. Often as a final warning a llama will spit into the air. If this has not yet convinced the other llama or person to back off, a llama may spit directly on whomever they are perceiving as a threat or nuisance.

The actual contents of the spit can take different forms. There is a grain spit, a saliva spit, and a green stomach contents spit. An eating llama who is protecting its food will spit whatever is in their mouth. This usually occurs while llamas are eating grain. It is a lot like a person trying to whistle with crackers in their mouth except with more force. Llamas may also spit just by spraying the saliva present in their mouths. This type of spit is usually used as a warning before the green spit appears. Crias will spit this way while they are learning and before they can regurgitate their stomach contents. The worst type of spit is the green regurgitated stomach contents. A llama usually means business when spitting "the green stuff". The green spit can easily be sent out 10-15 feet by the spitter. This spit is very smelly to people and to llamas. A llama who has been spit on and sometimes the llama who did the spitting will hang their mouths open to express their dislike for the smell. The llama who spit may also have green on its lips and allow the bottom lip to hang while he/she drools.

Last updated September 2,1997

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