Suri Llama Breed Standards
Conformation and Movement Standards
 A
Breed Standard epitomizes the ideal animal. It serves as a
subjective
guide for breeders sharing the common goal of producing superior
breedstock.
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PHENOTYPE OVERVIEW
The suri llama is a regal, luxuriant, elegant animal; denoting
grace and athleticism. It exhibits natural presence with a
friendly, lively character. It’s overall appearance
is one of balance and smoothness, with all body parts in harmony
with one another. Ears are long, thin, and erect with an inside
curve. Suri llama fleece will have independent movement, with
uniform lock structure carried on the head, neck, body and
legs. It’s distinguishing characteristics are locked
architecture and luster, which are hallmarks of the suri llama
phenotype. The fleece lies close to the body, often giving
the animal a narrow appearance.
Disposition & Intelligence
Suri llamas are curious, honest, and attentive. Their character
expresses charm and a willing nature. Their calm intelligence
lends itself to versatility and trainability.
Faults: • Listless • Poor disposition
Head & Ears
The head must give the appearance of being refined, but proportion
to the body is paramount. Ideally the head should exhibit
suri lock structure consistent with the rest of the body.
It should be “llama like” with length of nose
being neither too short nor too long, and blend smoothly into
the neck. It has a noble, open, approachable look. The eyes
should be shiny, large, alert, and well set on the skull.
The nostrils are well defined. The upper hard palate and lower
teeth should align properly; the teeth having enameling on
both front and back surfaces. The ears are long, inclined
toward each other, relatively thin, and held erect on each
side of the head. An inside curve to the ear is strongly favored,
with lance shaped and short ears considered not acceptable.
Any eye color is acceptable.
Faults: • Wry face • Roman nose • Disproportional
head size • Improper occlusion • Small eyes •
Lacks breed character • Lower jaw undershot or overshot
• Short or lance shaped ear
Neck
The neck of a suri llama sets high and is well carried on
the shoulders, producing suppleness and self carriage. It
blends smoothly into the withers and is held upright while
walking. The neck gives the appearance of sufficient length
relative to its body and legs and should denote strength but
not bulk.
Faults: • Bent neck • Length proportionately
too short or too long to body • Ewe neck
 Forequarters
(Shoulders, Chest and Withers)
The forequarters of the suri llama should be in proportion
to gender and body size. The chest should be moderately broad
and deep, with correct angulation through the shoulders; allowing
for a proper stride. Withers should be set well into the shoulders
and be neither too prominent nor too fleshy; forming a relatively
straight line with the back.
Faults: • Chest excessively narrow •
Excessive chest width • Loose shoulders • Lack of
correct angulation (too straight, too flat,or excessively
round) through shoulders
Body and Topline
The suri body should inspire elegance and balance but not
weakness. It must look strong, with moderately sprung ribs
to supply sufficient and ample capacity for heart and lungs
and digestive system. The back is relatively level and firm
and fits well into the withers. It is neither too long nor
too short and joins into the loins relatively level and strong;
making a smooth transition through the rear. The suri llama
will have a moderately narrow appearance when viewed from
the front or rear.
Faults: • Roach back • Sway back •
Weak through the loins • Over-long back • Lack of
spring of rib • Poor body condition (too fat or too thin)
Hindquarters
The loin is strong with a level transition to the croup. The
croup should have minimal downward slope to the tailhead.
The pins (point of hip through point of buttocks) ideally
should be between 35 and 40 degrees. The tailset is carried
naturally high while in motion and when alerted or anxious.
Correct angulation through the hip, stifle and hock allows
for proper movement. The hips should be well developed in
proportion with shoulders for proper balance. Thighs and stifles
should be strong and well muscled. When viewed from the rear,
there should be sufficient width (in proportion to body size)
to suggest agility and strength. Rear should be well covered
with flesh but should have no suggestion of bulk. The tail
should be of sufficient length and have sufficient fiber to
cover the genitalia.
Faults: • Narrow hindquarters • Camped
under • Camped out • Weakness through thigh or stifle
• Steeply sloping croup/hip with low tail set •
Bent or kinked tail that cannot be manually straightened •
Lack of angulation through hip, stifle, hock
 Legs
The forelegs should appear sound and straight (when viewed
from the front), with overall substance and strength. The
legs should be well developed and set squarely under the llama.
Knees tie well into the forearms and cannon bone. The hind
legs form correct angles from the hip on down through the
hock and relatively straight from hock to fetlock when viewed
from the side. Legs are straight from hip to fetlock when
viewed from the rear. The thighs and gaskins should be strong
and well muscled. Hocks are well developed with sufficient
flexion and strength. Cannons should be of sufficient length
and free of swells. Pasterns are firm and upright to provide
reasonable flexion and support. Feet are neat and well formed
with forward facing toes.
Faults: • Poor body condition (too fat or
too thin) • Excessively large feet • Polydactylism
or syndactylism • Splay foot • Pigeon toed •
Weak pasterns • Straight pasterns • Down on pasterns
• Cocked ankle • Short cannons • Knock knees
• Buck knees • Calf knees • Cow hocks •Sickle
Hocks • Loose joints • Base wide or narrow •
Post legged • Bow legged • Angular limb deformities
Movement
The suri llama should move with a straight, fluid and non-restricted
gait. Front legs should appear to reach out freely from the
shoulders and pull in the ground they cover. Back feet should
follow front feet in a correctly aligned pattern.
Faults: • Over-reach • Under-reach •
Irregular cadence • Excessive inward or outward deviation
of movement • Dragging of feet
Height
At three years of age the height of a suri llama should be
a minimum of 40 inches at the withers. Any deviation below
this height in a mature animal is to be discouraged.
External Genitalia
Intact male testicles should be both visible and uniform in
size, with proper placement. They should be adequate size
for the age of the llama. Female genitalia should appear normal
and adequate size for age. The female udder shows good capacity,
with four working teats.
Faults: • Testes of uneven size • Testes
too small relative to age • Retained or ectopic testicles
•Fewer or more than four teats • Malformed genitalia
(too small, horizontal shelving) • Inverted or supernumerary
teats
Blemishes
Blemishes that do not affect health or soundness, such as
scars or frostbitten ears, will be noted but not scored.
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