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Camel

Ship of the Desert: These "ships of the desert" are incredibly well-adapted to their environment. When conditions heat up, camels can increase their own body temperature, which prevents sweating and therefore water loss. Camels can tolerate a 40 percent loss in body mass when food and water are scarce, an amazing feat when one considers that a 15 percent loss would kill most other mammals. Their thick fur insulates them from the heat as well as the cold.

Oddly Formed: Long legs and a small head make the camel appear oddly formed. Its gait also seems awkward as the front and back legs on the same side move forward together, creating a rocking motion. Camels have either one hump (Dromedary) or two humps (Bactrian). Both species store fat in their humps for use during lean times.

Bactrian and Dromedary: Bactrian camels still exist in the wild, but their numbers have been reduced to not more than 2,000 individuals. Dromedary camels were domesticated 4,000 years ago in what is today the United Arab Emirates. They went extinct in the wild 2,000 years later, and nowadays only domesticated, semi-domesticated and feral populations remain.

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MORE CAMEL

SPECIES: Bactrian Camel

SPECIES: Dromedary Camel

DID YOU KNOW?

An Arabic Animal: The camel has been at the center of Arabian culture for thousands of years. In fact, there are over 160 words for "camel" in the Arabic language.

Split Upper Lip: The camel's split upper lip allows it to grip and draw food into its mouth. Its lips are also very tough to protect against thorny desert plants.