The dromedary camel has lived in the deserts of
western Asia thousands of years. Its single hump contains a reserve of fat,
not water. The dromedary camel has been domesticated for so long that there
are no records of its life as a wild animal. Perfectly adapted for the hot,
dry climate of the desert, it plays a vital role in the life of the nomads.
Characteristics: The dromedary
camel is well adapted to cope with the extreme climate and harsh terrain
of the desert. Its adaptations include hairy ears and heavy eyebrows with
long eyelashes that protect the ears and eyes from the sun and blowing sand.
Dromedaries in the Sahara can go through the entire winter without taking
a drink. This is because the camel loses very little water in its feces and
urine. It can tolerate a lot of water loss and does not sweat until its body
temperature becomes very high.
Food & Feeding: The dromedary
camel ruminates (chews food again after swallowing it). It eats almost any
vegetation in the desert, including the thorny twigs and salty plants that
other desert dwellers cannot tolerate. Domesticated dromedaries are fed dates,
grains, and grasses. When food is scarce, the camels will even eat fish and
the flesh of other animals. When food is plentiful, the camel overeats and
stores the excess as fat in its hump. The hump then shrinks and may even flop
to one side. The camels long legs and large feet make it ideal for traveling
across the soft sands of the desert.
Breeding: The female dromedary comes
into heat (becomes ready to mate) several times a year. This gives her a
better chance of giving birth during the unpredictable birth during the unpredictable
rainy season, when there i plenty of vegetation for her young. The male camel
becomes aggressive during mating season. He also performs a noisy breeding
display to attract females.
The female stands as she gives birth to
a single calf (young). It is both with its eyes open and is covered in a
soft, woolly fleece. Within two to three hours the calf can walk. By
the end of its fist day, it moves about quickly and freely. The young suckles
for at least a year. It remains dependent on its mother until it is four
years old.
Dromedary Camel & Man: The dromedary
camel has been important to people in the deserts of western Asia and North
Africa. For thousands of years the camel has pulled plows in fields, turned
water wheels to irrigate crops, and provided transportation for people and
goods. The camel is also a source for food, clothing , and shelter.
Its flesh is edible, and the females provide milk for drinking and making
into cheese. The camel's woolly fleece is woven into clothes, blankets, and
tents, and its hide is cured to make leather.
Did you know:
Camels are the only mammals that have oval,
rather than circular, red blood corpuscles.
Camels often spit when something annoys them.
The dromedary is something's known as the "ship
of the desert." This is partly because of its rolling walk, but also because
it is the main transportation for crossing the desert.
In very hot weather, a camel that has not drunk
any water for a long time can drink up to 50 gallons at the time.
Sizes:
Height: To shoulder, 6 to 7 ft. To hump.
Length: Body, 7 to 11 ft. Tail, up to
2 ft
Weight: 1,000 to 1,5000 lbs
Breeding
Sexual Maturity: 5 years
Breeding season: Varies, timed for birth
to coincide with maximum plant growth.
Gestation: 370 to 440 days
No of Young: 1
Lifestyle:
Habit: Forms groups of up to 30 animals.
Diet: Any available vegetation.
Lifespan: 17 to 50 years
Related Species: There are 2 genera
in the family Camelidae, both of which have 2 species. The only other species
of camel is the two humped Bactrain, Camelus bactrianus.
Distributed: Thought to have originated
on the Arabian Peninsula. Present domesticated range extends from northern
Africa and across central Asia to Mongolia and Australia.
Conservation: The dromedary camel thrives
as a domesticated animal and in a semi wild state. It has probably not existed
as a wild species for several hundred years.
Features of the Dromedary Camel:
Legs: Long and slender. Prominent pads
protect knees as camel kneels.
Feet: Large and fleshy. Each foot has
two toes which spread as the camel walks, helping it move easily over desert.
Hair: Fine, woolly hair on hump, throat,
neck, and head, provides protection from the sun.
Nose: Nostrils can be closed completely
during a sandstorm.
Bactrian Camel has two humps, while
the dromedary has only one. The bactrian also has a longer, thicker
coat all over its body to cope with its cooler habitat.
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