About Camel

Facts
Kingdom : Animalia
Class : Mammalia
Family : Camelidae
Genus : Camelus
Species : Dromedarius

Description
The dromedary camel is characterized by a long-curved neck, deep-narrow chest, and a single hump. Hair length is longer on the throat, shoulder, and hump. The size of the hump varies with the nutritional status of the camel, becoming smaller to non-existent during times of starvation.

Average Statistics
Lifespan 40-50 yrs
Geographic Range Africa, the Middle East, & Africa.

Diet
The dromedary camel is a herbivore, eating primarily thorny plants and dry grasses.

Social Habbits
Dromedaries usually form groups of 2-20 individuals. The group, or family, consists of one male, and one to several females, subadults, and young. The male is the dominant member of the family group and directs the family from the rear while the females take turns leading. Dromedaries tend to travel by walking single file.

Offspring
Camels typically have 1 offspring at a time, after a gestation period of 15 months. Young are raised for a period of 2 years, before reaching adulthood. Camels reach secual maturity and begin mating at approximately 4-5 years of age.

Relationship with Humans
The dromedary camel is used as a beast of burden by humans and also provides humans with milk, meat, wool, leather, and fuel from dried manure. Through these services, the dromedary camel has enabled humans to inhabit the seemingly inhabitable desert.