Camels are llarge, long-necked mammal found in
arid country, with long slender legs, broad cushioned
feet, and either one or two humps on their backs.
Other Names: Dromedary, Bactrian, Arabian
Camel in Foreign Languages:
Egyptian Arabic: gámal
German: Kamel / Trampeltier
Haitian Creole: chamo
Hebrew: gamla / gamal
Latin: camelus / camela
Sardinian: camellu / cammellu
Roman: kamila / deva
Slovak: tava / dromedár
Slovenian: kamela / velblod
Spanish: camello / dromedario
Swedish: kamel / dromedar
Tajik: utur / utur
Turkish: deve / hecin
West Frisian: kamiel
Species: There are two species of camels: the
dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the
bactrian has two humps.
Size: Camels measure over 5.9 to 7.5 feet tall
at the shoulder and 7-8.5 feet at the apex of the hump.
Camels measure 7.5 to 11.3 feet long. Camels weigh 660
to 1,520 lbs.
Habitat: Camels are found in Asia. Dromedaries
are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia, North
Africa and the Middle East, and Bactrian camels are
native to Central and East Asia. Camels prefer habitats
with desert, prairie, and the steppe.
Description: Dromedary camels have one hump
and the Bactrian camel has two humps. Camels have a
woolly coat, that is caramel in color. The camels coat
will often look shaggy from seasonal shedding.
Behavior: Camels can travel as fast as horses,
but they can endure legendary periods of time without
food or water. Camels can go a week or more without
water, and camels can last for several months without
Diet: Camels eat short grass, vegetation including
thorns or salty plants, and they will even eat fish.
Like cows, camels regurgitate there food back up from
their stomachs to chew it again. Camels can go with
very little food for long periods of time, a very thirsty
animal can drink 30 gallons of water in a very short
amount of time.
Communication: Camels make a variety
of sounds. The sounds include: moaning, groaning
sounds, high-pitched bleats, and loud bellows.
Did You Know?
Camels can run at up to 40 mph for
short bursts, and can sustain speeds
of 25 mph.
Gestation: Camels carry their young for 12 to
Birth: Camels give birth to a single camel at
Sexually Mature: Male camels sexually mature
between 6-8 years of age. Female camels sexually mature
around the age of 3.
Life Span: The average life span of a
camel is 40 to 50 years.
Did You Know?
Camels do not store water in their
humps as is commonly believed. The humps
are actually a reservoir of fatty tissue.
Social Structure: Camels often travel in groups
called flocks or caravans.
Unusual: Humans have used camels for their wool,
milk, meat, leather, and even dung that can be used