# Camel (*Camelus dromedarius*) Camels are known as the 'ships of the desert' because they can travel long distances without water. They have a hump on their back that stores fat, not water. Camels are friendly animals with long eyelashes to protect their eyes from sand. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Desert - **Also known as:** Arabian Camel, Camels, Desert Ship, Dromedary, One-Humped Camel ![Camel](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426637/objects/5956.jpg) ## Appearance The Camel has a single large hump on its back, distinguishing it from its two-humped cousins. Its coat is usually sandy brown to dark brown, with long legs and a long neck, topped by a relatively small head. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Camelidae - **Genus:** Camelus ## Interesting facts - A camel's calloused knees protect them when kneeling on hot desert ground! - Camels can spit a smelly, greenish mixture to scare away threats! - Newborn camels are born without a hump; it grows as they eat! - Their blood cells are oval-shaped, letting them drink lots of water quickly without bursting! ## Special abilities - **Sand Stride:** Camel has wide, padded feet and two toes that help them walk steadily on shifting sand without sinking. - **Desert Goggles:** Camel has long, double-layered eyelashes and clear inner eyelids that help them protect their eyes from sand. - **Heat Harness:** Camel can let its body temperature rise during the day, which helps them conserve water by not sweating as much. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 220-340 cm - **Weight:** 300-600 kg - **Lifespan:** 40-50 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 370-440 days ## Diet & Feeding Camels are tough plant-eaters, munching on almost any desert plant they can find. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, shrubs, thorny plants, saltbush, dry leaves - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Dingo (*Canis dingo*) — Dingoes prey on young or weak feral camels in Australia. - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Eagles may hunt camel calves in desert environments. - **Eats:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Humans hunt feral camels for meat and population control. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Approach camels calmly and avoid sudden movements around them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Camel? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Camel? 220-340 cm ### How much does Camel weigh? 300-600 kg ### How long does Camel live? 40-50 years ### How fast can Camel move? 65 km/h ### What does Camel eat? Camels are tough plant-eaters, munching on almost any desert plant they can find. ### Where is Camel usually found? Desert ### How does Camel hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [African Safari Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/african-safari-wildlife-park) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Cape May County Park & Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-may-county-park-and-zoo) — New Jersey, US · Zoo - [Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chattanooga-zoo-at-warner-park) — Tennessee, US · Zoo - [Sierra Safari Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sierra-safari-zoo) — Nevada, US · Zoo - [Selig Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/selig-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Triangle Metro Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/triangle-metro-zoo) — North Carolina, US · Zoo [View all places to see Camel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/camel) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Camel: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/camel)