The amount of melanin pigments was investigated in 80 Argentinean llama, representative of seven phenotypes and four dif-ferent fleece colours, by means of spectrophotometric assays: SpEM (spectrophotometric eumelanin), SpPM (spectrophotometric
pheomelanin), SpASM (spectrophotometric alkali soluble melanin), and SpTM (spectrophotometric total melanin). It was found
that, although to a different extent, the quantitative variation of these pigments was affected both by phenotypes and fleece colours
and, hence, it was possible to identify and to distinguish homogeneous groups on the basis of these two factors. In particular,
SpEM revealed the most reliable parameter for a discrimination among these groups. Low concentrations of this pigment charac-terize red, wild, and red black phenotypes and distinguish them from black and tan and non-agouti black ones, both showing high
concentrations; low concentrations also distinguish reddish brown fleece colour from very dark red and black ones.
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