The Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a large, one-hump ungulate (hoofed) mammal, native to northern Africa and the Middle East, with a large population of introduced camels in Australia.

The Dromedary Camel has sandy-brown body, a long, curved neck, a single hump, and long legs. It has small, rounded ears, and large eyes. It has bushy eyebrows and double-layered eyelashes to prevent sand getting in its eyes. It has two toes on each padded hoof. Its flat hooves are adapted to supporting their weight on desert sands.

It can grow to 2 metres (6.6 feet) tall.

It liked desert areas, and can live in dry climates with limited water. It is diurnal (active during the day). It feeds of desert grasses and vegetation. It is a grazer, feeding on grass for 8-12 hours a day. It is also a ruminant, chewing its cud. Cud is regurgitated food (food that is chewed for the second time).

It usually drinks water every 10-15 days in cooler weather and every 4-7 days in hotter weather.

They are herd animals, living in herds of about 20 individuals. The head of the herd is a dominant male.

Females are pregnant for 15 months before giving birth of one bay, called a calf. The calf drinks its mother’s milk for one to two years.

 

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM