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			A llama baby is called a "cria." A 2 year old is called a "tui," and at age 3 and beyond, a female is called an "hembre" and a male is called a "macho." Llamas usually live 20 ~ 25 years. An adult will weigh between 300 ~ 450 pounds. The gestation period for a llama is 11.5 months. Crias are usually born between 10 am and 2 pm. A llama mama cannot lick her baby dry, so she gives birth during the warmest part of the day. Llamas rarely need help with birthing, and within an hour or less, a healthy cria is up on its feet and trying to nurse. Twins are rare. There are only 20 or so recorded twin births in the last few decades. Llamas are cousins of the Bactrian and Dromedary camels of Africa and Asia. Llamas are native to the Andes Mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina where the climate and terrain can be very harsh. This is why they have evolved to be such hardy creatures. Llamas, along with their cousin, the alpaca, are one of the oldest domesticated species of livestock, having been so for about 5000 years. There are four South American camelids: llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas. Their ancestors, along with those of the 2 camels, originated in North America in the area of Wyoming and Nebraska during the Pleistocene Age. At that time they were no larger than a small dog.