About TodoLlamas and our editorial approach

TodoLlamas is a bilingual (Spanish and English) encyclopaedic portal and interactive learning resource dedicated to the study of the llama (Lama glama) and South American camelids (alpaca, guanaco and vicuña). Our mission is to bring together evolutionary biology, high-altitude anatomy and physiology, Andean pastoral ecology, responsible herd husbandry, pre-Columbian archaeology and printable classroom workshops in one open-access reference hub.

Editorial methodology and source hierarchy

Every guide and interactive tool on TodoLlamas is authored from verifiable scientific, veterinary and institutional literature. Articles feature numbered inline citations linked directly to the reference list at the bottom of each page. We apply a strict documentary hierarchy:

• Peer-reviewed genomic and palaeontological research: Used to explain the Eocene North American origins of Camelidae, their migration across the Isthmus of Panama and Andean domestication and hybridisation (such as the whole-genome study by Fan et al. in Genome Biology).
• Veterinary manuals and university extension guides: To cover three-compartment forestomach digestion (C1, C2 and C3), forage nutrition, trace mineral balance, Body Condition Scoring (BCS 1–5) by lumbar palpation, neonatal cria care and low-stress handling, we rely on the Merck Veterinary Manual, MSD Veterinary Manual and Penn State Extension technical publications.
• International agricultural bodies and zoological databases: To contextualise Andean altiplano distribution, bofedales wetland management and comparative morphology, we cross-reference FAO husbandry manuals with the University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web (ADW).
• Museum collections and archaeological publications: For pre-Columbian history, textiles and ceremonial pottery, we cite peer-reviewed excavations (such as Tambo Viejo in Antiquity), museum records (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) and academic editions of the Huarochirí Manuscript.

Interactive tools and original illustrations

Alongside our fifteen in-depth thematic guides, TodoLlamas provides open-access interactive educational tools: a visual field identifier and four-species biological comparator, an orientative dry-matter forage, water and Body Condition Score (BCS) calculator, and a self-assessment biology and history quiz. We also create original vector diagrams (SVG) and printable A4 templates for drawing and papercraft activities.

Educational scope and veterinary disclaimer

The TodoLlamas byline identifies this science and cultural publishing project. Our guides on nutrition, gestation, neonatal care and animal welfare are strictly educational and informational: they never replace clinical diagnosis, individual ration formulation or hands-on assessment by a qualified veterinarian.

Corrections policy and funding

We regularly audit our articles and bibliographic links to maintain factual accuracy, displaying both the original publication date and the latest substantive revision date. To report an error or suggest a primary academic source, email hola@todollamas.com with the article URL and supporting reference.

Hosting infrastructure and free educational resources are supported by contextual advertising served through Google AdSense, in accordance with our privacy policy and cookie policy. Advertising never influences our editorial criteria or source selection.