Among the sands of the hot desert inhabits a beautiful majestic animal - a camel. It is not without reason that it is called a desert ship. From ancient times, people have noticed the ability of a camel to easily move through the sand, withstand storms, drought and other harsh environmental conditions. The animal was so fond of man that it was domesticated and began to help in the household.
“God's gift” - the name of the one-humped camel is translated from Arabic. The specific appearance of these animals delights visitors to zoos and circuses.
What are camels
Today, there are two types of animals: a two-humped camel and a single-humped camel. In addition, there are individuals living in the wild and domesticated. The scientific name for the two-humped camel is Bactrian, the one-humped dromedary. Often there is another name for the one-humped camel - jammel, translated as “Arabic camel”. By species, they belong to a special family dedicated to them - Camelids.
Appearance of a two-humped and one-humped camel
So, dromedaries are more slender individuals. Owners of high growth (2.5 meters) and long slender legs, they weigh only 350-700 kilograms. In addition, their hair has an ash-yellow hue.
Another thing is a two-humped camel, whose name is Bactrian. Their coat is thick and grows to 2.7 meters. Animals weigh with two humps up to 800 kilograms. The color is different - in Bactrian it is gray-yellow.
Nevertheless, one-humped and two-humped camels have a large number of similar features, due to which they were listed in special squad - Callosities. The point is the special structure of the foot, which allows them to freely walk on the sand.
While walking, the camel does not lean on the hoof, but immediately on several phalanges of the fingers forming a unique corn pillow. Camels have two of these supporting fingers. They are bifurcated and in appearance resemble hoofed hooves.
Distinguishes camels and their neck, bending down.
Adaptation to severe desert conditions
To feel great in conditions of dry, hot desert, animals have a number of features. The main thing in the desert is to save as much fluid as possible and overcome overheating. Long camel hair is called upon to fight with overheating. One-humped camel has less hair. Most likely, this is due to the fact that these animals do not occur in nature. Another thing is a two-humped camel. His coat is long (winter) or medium length (summer). But in any case, it is very dense and dense. This creates a wonderful barrier for the camel, not letting in hot or cold air.
In the desert, the differences between day and night temperatures are very large - for this, camels have one more unique property: a wide range of body temperature. The animal can withstand temperatures from minus 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. If an ordinary mammal at a constant permissible body temperature includes thermoregulation mechanisms with a slight change, then a camel includes these mechanisms (sweating) only at temperatures above 40 degrees. This not only creates comfort for the animal, but also allows you to retain precious moisture.
Specific nostrils of the animal also help to not waste water supplies and preserve it.
They have a slit-like shape and are very tightly closed. In addition, a special septum in the nasal cavity accumulates steam, condenses and directs it into the oral cavity. Thus, not a drop of water is lost.
The special device of the nostrils performs another important function - they help the camel to breathe during a sandstorm. And large eyelashes protect your eyes from grains of sand.
The kidneys and intestines help retain moisture. The former produce very concentrated urine, and the latter produce dehydrated manure.
How do camels accumulate moisture? Animals can absorb water phenomenally quickly: in 10 minutes up to 150 liters. Life-giving moisture builds up in the stomach. In the heat, camels may not be thirsty for up to 5 days, and one-humped camels - up to 10 if they do not do heavy physical work. This unique feature is provided to animals by the special structure of blood red blood cells - they have an oval shape, respectively, retain moisture longer.
Why is a camel hump?
A distinctive feature by which even children can easily recognize a camel is its hump. It is a mistake to believe that there is a supply of water in it. Not. Adipose tissue is concentrated in the hump - it contains nutrients that the animal spends, if necessary, as food or drink. After all, it is known that water is a by-product of the breakdown of fat.
Interestingly, the well-being of the animal is judged by its humps. If they stick up, the camel is in great shape. Otherwise, the humps sag or disappear completely.
Habitat of two-humped and one-humped camels
Previously, a wild two-humped camel lived throughout Asia, at present it can only be found in the Gobi desert. Domesticated Bactrian is still found in many Asian countries, such as China, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Kalmykia, and Kazakhstan. Since the 19th century, the two-humped camel has been used even in Siberia. Accustomed to harsh climatic conditionsIt is ideal for transporting goods.
The bumpy camel is less and less common in the desert. There is an active domestication of them.
The Arabian Peninsula and North Africa - the habitat of one-humped camels. IN wildlife dromedaries are very rare. They do not have such a coat of wool as Bactrians, so they prefer a warm climate. They can be found in Pakistan or India, one-humped camels reach Turkmenistan. Australia also liked the dromedaries - they were brought there about a thousand years ago.
Camel lifestyle
The area where the two-humped camel lives (as well as the one-humped camel) is a desert or semi-desert with low vegetation. They lead a predominantly sedentary lifestyle, although they can roam over impressive distances, because the territory of their sites is very vast. “A lot of wandering” - this is how “camel” is translated from the Old Slavonic language.
In the afternoon, in sweltering heat, animals rest, lie down. In the evening and in the morning they prefer to eat. The usual speed of a camel is 10 km / h. If the animal is scared, it can reach speeds of up to 30 km / h. It is worth noting that a camel is able to see danger at a kilometer distance.
They live in families. The number reaches 10 individuals. At the head of the family is a male, several females and cubs obey him. There are males leading a lonely lifestyle. Camels are calm and calm animals. They do not spend energy on games and conflicts.
It is worth noting that camels are wonderful swimmers.
The life expectancy of the animal is 40-50 years. The mating season falls on the fall-winter. Moreover, males at this time behave very aggressively: they can attack domestic camels, lead or kill females. A baby is born on average after a year with a little. Almost immediately, the camel rises to its feet.
Up to a year and a half, a female mother feeds her with her nutritious, fat milk. There is a camel with mom until puberty (3-5 years).
Adult camels have virtually no enemies, but camels are attacked by wolves.
Animals are known for spitting in case of danger. It is worth noting that the two-humped camel spits most often in another individual. People rarely get it. Only when, according to the animal, danger emanates from him. When a camel defends itself, it kicks, bites, and can stomp with its front legs.
Camel food
Bitter, tough, low vegetation is what a one-humped and two-humped camel eats. The name of the bush speaks for itself: "camel thorn." Animals are absolutely unpretentious in choosing food. Moving bifurcated lips allow the camel to chew as little as possible, therefore, prickly plants are not an obstacle for him.
Camels do not pass by any reservoir: they drink abundantly and with great pleasure.
Wild and domestic camels
Unfortunately, in the wild, camels are found less and less. One-humped animals are not found in the natural environment at all, and the number of two-humped animals is only 1000 individuals that live in special reserves. We talked about the name of the two-humped camel listed in the Red Book - it is Bactrian.
Having no enemies among the inhabitants of the desert, the camel is in danger due to human activities. On the one hand, animals are caught for domestication and taming, and on the other hand, their habitats are destroyed.
Domestic camels are wayward, proud animals with self-esteem. They do not tolerate cruelty and neglect. A camel will never stand up at the request of the owner unless he decides for himself that he is well rested. The camel will not allow himself to be milked by an outsider. A certain person must do this and only in the presence of a camel. Despite difficult communication with humans, camels are very devoted animals, they attach themselves to a good owner, are capable of learning and training.
The benefits to humans
A man began domestication of camels quite a long time ago, almost 5 thousand years ago. In addition to physical assistance in the transport of goods, animals - this is valuable milk, high-quality skin, warm fur. Even camel bone is used to make Bedouin jewelry and household items. For good reason animals are held in high esteem by those who breed them.
Many residents of tourist countries use camels to entertain visitors.
Without the participation of these hardy animals, trade in antiquity would not have taken place, and as a result, powerful civilizations would not have flourished. People would not get acquainted with oriental spices or Chinese silk. Camels were also used in wars. By the way, there is still a camel regiment in India.
Camel also played its role in the development of North America. It was with the help of these animals that goods were transported. With the invention of the railway, camels were evicted as unnecessary in habitat deserts where they were destroyed by local farmers. Therefore, in America there are no animals left.
In contact with
In the past, countless herds of wild dromedaries roamed the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, but today only domesticated animals can be found.
IN modern world Dromedar is common in many regions of Asia and Africa as a pet for transporting goods or riding.
Unlike Bactrian, its wild populations have not survived in our time. Only in Australia and North America there are second-run wild herds of camels — the distant descendants of dd & dromedaries introduced to the continents in the 19th – 20th centuries.
External signs
general description
Unlike Bactrian, Dromedars have only one hump. They are much smaller than their two-humped relatives: their length reaches from 2.3 to 3.4 m, and the height at the withers is from 1.8 to 2.3 m. The weight of the dromedars is from 300 to 700 kg. The tail is relatively short, no longer than 50 cm. The dromedary is distinguished by a rather slender physique and long legs, and ash-yellow tones predominate in its color. The hair of a one-humped camel is usually sandy, but other colors are also found: from white to dark brown. The upper part of the head, neck and back are covered with longer hair.
Jjron, GNU 1.2One-humped camels have a long neck, on which an elongated head is located. The upper lip is bifurcated, and the nostrils are slit-like and the camel can close them if necessary. For centuries, he has very long eyelashes. The one-humped camel has numerous corns on the knees, feet and other parts of the body. On the legs, like all camelids, there are only two toes, crowned not with hooves, but with callus pillows. The stomach consists, like that of close relatives, of several chambers, which facilitates digestion during plant nutrition.
Dry climate adaptability
Adaptation to the arid climate allows one-humped camels to live in desert regions. They are able to do without water for a long time, knowing how to store it in large quantities in their body.
Special mechanisms in the body of dromedaries minimize fluid loss. The dense coat does not allow excessive evaporation, sweat glands are very few, and animals begin to sweat only in the 40-degree heat. The body temperature of a one-humped camel drops dramatically at night, and during the day the body heats up slowly, which allows the animal not to sweat.
Dromedaries can go without water for a long time (a week under a pack and a few months without load). Camels without any harm to themselves can survive a significant loss of fluid, up to 40% by volume, but they drink camels very quickly and can quickly compensate for the entire lost volume of fluid, if they are able to drink about 1 hectoliter (100 liters) of water in 10 minutes. Other mammals are simply not able to absorb such a “camel dose” of fluid in such a short time. The basis of the diet of the dromedary is dry, often prickly desert vegetation.
The hump on the back contains reserves of fat, which the body of the camel gradually uses to produce energy. Camels do not store liquid in the hump, but in the stomach. The buds of a one-humped camel extract the fluid very carefully, leaving very concentrated urine. Almost all liquid is also extracted from feces before excretion.
Chrumps, GNU 1.2 During a particularly dry season, a single-humped camel is able to lose more than 25% of its weight without dying from thirst or hunger.
Spread
Dromedars are common as pets throughout North Africa and throughout the Middle East all the way to India. The southern border of their distribution area is approximately 13 ° north latitude, and the northernmost point of their habitat is Turkestan, where, as in Asia Minor, they are found together with Bactrians. Dromedars were introduced in the Balkans, in southwestern Africa, and in the Canary Islands. From 1840 to 1907 they were even imported to Australia, where until today descendants of released or escaped specimens live in the central regions. This population, which numbers from 50 thousand to 100 thousand individuals, is by far the only large population of one-humped camel in the world living in the wild. A similarly populated one-humped camel population also existed in the southwestern United States, but became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Dromedar lives in more southern regions the globethan Bactrian, however, it also occurs in Central Asia.
Behavior
Social behavior
Dromedars are active in the daytime. Camels living in the wild usually form harem groups consisting of one male, several females and their offspring.
Young males often join in groups of bachelors, which, however, hold for a short time. Sometimes fights occur between males (bites and kicks) in which the role of the leader in the group is determined.
Nutrition
Like all camelids, one-humped camels are herbivores that can feed on all kinds of plants, including prickly and salted ones.
The food is swallowed almost chewed and gets into the front stomach, where it is digested completely. This process resembles the digestion process in ruminants ( Ruminantia), to which camels, however, are not zoologically related.
Garrondo, CC BY-SA 3.0 Digestive system camels, apparently, developed independently of this group of animals, as evidenced by the presence of numerous glands in the anterior stomach of camels.
Breeding
Mating occurs mainly in winter and is associated with a rainy season. The duration of pregnancy is from 360 to 440 days, after which, as a rule, a single cub is born; twins are rarely born. After the first day, newborns walk independently. The mother takes care of the offspring from a year to two years, and the transition from milk to plant food occurs six months later. Two years after giving birth, the female may become pregnant again.
The female reaches puberty at the age of three years, in males it occurs at the age of four to six years. The average lifespan of a single-humped camel is from 40 to 50 years.
With the help of artificial insemination, it is possible to cross between a male of a one-humped camel and a female llama - the result is a “kama" hybrid.
Dromedary and man
Wild dromedaries
Where exactly the wild dromedars lived and when they became extinct is not fully understood. Due to the rarity of fossil finds, and also because of the possibility of crossbreeding Dromedars and Bactrians, some zoologists even suggest that wild Dromedars never existed at all. However, there is some evidence that speaks of the ancient wild forms of these animals. These include cave paintings of three thousand years ago on the Arabian Peninsula, depicting the hunt for apparently wild camels, as well as the lower jaw of the dromedar found in southwestern Saudi Arabia, whose age is estimated at seven thousand years, that is, before the domestication of camels began. In the Pleistocene, they probably lived in North Africa up to about 3000 BC. e. Sometimes these belong to another extinct species. Camelus thomasi. Wild dromedars completely died out around the beginning of our era.
As mentioned above, Australia has the largest population of wild camels. These animals are secondly feral. Camels were introduced to Australia in the 19th century as pack animals adapted to the arid climate. Since then, many of them have run wild, and the herd has increased due to a lack of predatory animals in the region. This, as in the case of the importation of rabbits to Australia, negatively affects the ecosystem of the continent, camels turn from assistants into pests and even, in part, into enemies of humans and local animals ...
Domesticated Dromedaries
Carpenter, Frank G. (Frank George), 1855-1924, Public Domain
Useful information
lat Camelus dromedariusor dromedary (dromedary)
or arabian
The name "dromedary" comes from greek word δρομάς, which means running. The name "Arabian" comes from the word Arabia, where this view camels were domesticated.
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryotes
Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordates
Class: Mammals
Order: Artiodactyls
Family: Camel
Genus: Camels
Type: One-humped Camel
International scientific name
Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758
Dromedary and man
Wild dromedaries
Where exactly the wild dromedars lived and when they became extinct is not fully understood. Due to the rarity of fossil finds, and also because of the possibility of crossbreeding Dromedars and Bactrians, some zoologists even suggest that wild Dromedars never existed at all. However, there is some evidence that speaks of the ancient wild forms of these animals. These include cave paintings of three thousand years ago on the Arabian Peninsula, depicting the hunt for apparently wild camels, as well as the lower jaw of the dromedar found in southwestern Saudi Arabia, whose age is estimated at seven thousand years, that is, before the domestication of camels began. In the Pleistocene, they probably lived in North Africa up to about 3000 BC. e. Sometimes these are also attributed to another extinct species Camelus thomasi. Wild dromedars completely died out around the beginning of our era.
As mentioned above, Australia has the largest population of wild camels. These animals are secondly feral. Camels were introduced to Australia in the 19th century as pack animals adapted to the arid climate. Since then, many of them have run wild, and the herd has increased due to a lack of predatory animals in the region. This, as in the case of the importation of rabbits to Australia, negatively affects the ecosystem of the continent, camels turn from assistants into pests and even, in part, into enemies of humans and local animals ..
Domesticated Dromedaries
When the Dromedars were tamed, it is impossible to say for sure until today. It is only known that the domestication process took place on the Arabian Peninsula and most likely it was around the third millennium BC.
The first mention of camel riders is on the Assyrian obelisk, where in the list of those who took part in the battle of Karkar in 853 BC. e. there is a contingent of 1,000 Arabian camel riders. Images of such riders are also found on the reliefs in Nimrud of the Ashurbanipal era (661-631 BC). They show two camel riders armed with bows. The front of them is primarily occupied by the management of the camel, while the second turns around and shoots the Assyrian foot soldiers. A camel is worn with a semblance of reins, but it is controlled, like today, by a stick. The straps around the animal’s chest and tail are affixed with a saddlebed.
As a pet, dromedar spread quite late, probably not earlier than the second half of the first millennium BC. Since the beginning of our era, its distribution area has been constantly growing, including due to the desertification of many regions. Today, there are different breeds of one-humped camels, which are adapted to various kinds of functions. Camels for transportation of goods, horse riding, racing, mountain and plain camels, as well as transitional forms, differ.
Nowadays, dromedaries are universally used as pack animals (usually carry up to 150 kg of cargo) and riding animals, and in endless semi-deserts stretching from North-West Africa to Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, they supply the locals with milk, meat and wool.
One-humped camel (aka dromedar) was domesticated by humans about 5,000 years ago. Nomadic peoples still use it as a pack, horse and draft animal. Dromedars supply their owners with milk, meat, wool and skins. Most of them live in a semi-wild state, and in Australia wild feral one-humped camels live.
HABITAT
Dromedar is common in North Africa and Southwest Asia. Its habitat extends from the Canary Islands to India. In the 19th century, European settlers brought the Dromedars to Australia, where part of the livestock ran and ran wild. In the rest of the territory, the Dromedars are domesticated or live in semi-wild herds belonging to nomadic tribes. One-humped camel lives in places with a dry climate, where the average annual temperature does not drop below 20 ° C, rains rarely and no more than 500 mm per year, clouds of sand and dust are carried in the dry air of the desert, constantly raised by blowing winds, and the change of seasons is almost not expressed.
LIFESTYLE
The one-humped camel is perfectly suited to the difficult life in the desert. Thick hair perfectly protects the animal from daytime heat and night cold. From the dust raised by the wind, the dromedar escapes by tightly closing the nostrils, and its eyes are covered with a fringe of thick and long eyelashes. The soles of the feet of the animal are equipped with pillows made of elastic skin, which facilitate walking on loose sand. A camel moves slowly through the desert and is able to walk about 5 km in steps or amble (an amble is an allure in which the animal simultaneously rearranges both left and right right legs). Dromedars live in small groups. Around an adult male usually gathers a harem of one and a half dozen females, sometimes accompanied by older juveniles. There are also groups consisting exclusively of females with camels, and bachelor herds of males. If there is little plant food, the grazing herd is scattered throughout the desert. For a day, a camel needs 30-50 kg of feed, and in order not to starve, he must spend 8-12 hours searching for food. The diet of the animal includes both green one-day species that appear only after rains, and all kinds of bindweeds, grasslands, acacias and salt marshes. From time to time, dromedar chews the bones of dead animals and fish, replenishing in this way the reserves of calcium and phosphorus in the body. A fat camel has an impressive hump full of fat and can weigh up to 15 kg. When it becomes tight with feed, the dromedar lives off the reserves of its “pantry”; Moreover, in the process of chemical breakdown of fat, water that is so essential for life is formed from it.
Propagation
When estrus females start to estrus, males become extremely aggressive. They grit their teeth excitedly, saliva profusely and vigorously rub the secretion of the occipital glands into the shoulder blades. During this period, fierce fights often occur between males. Opponents gnaw at each other, inflict blows with the head and front legs, with equal success leading the battle both standing and lying. The winner approaches the female, and she lays on the ground, showing him her good grace. During mating, which lasts 10-20 minutes, the male makes characteristic gurgling sounds. After a 13-month pregnancy, the female produces one camel weighing 25-50 kg. The female gives birth most often standing. As soon as the baby is born, the mother carefully sniffs it, but does not lick and does not eat the afterbirth, and the newborn immediately tries to stand on its feet and find the mother's udder.
A day later, the baby joins the herd and wanders along with the adults in the desert. For the first three months, he eats only his mother’s milk, and then begins to pinch the greens. Camels willingly spend time in games with peers, which often resemble fights of adult males. Mother excommunicates the year-old offspring from the udder. He still tries to suck milk for some time, but, as a rule, by this time his mother is pregnant again and chases him away without ceremony. Females become sexually mature in 3-4 years, and males in 5-6 years. Adult female gives birth once every two years.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Dromedar is able to drink up to 130 liters of water in one sitting and loves to swim in the rain.
A camel is the only one of all mammals whose body temperature varies from 34 to 41 ° C depending on the time of day. When the temperature rises to 40 ° C, the sweat glands begin to secrete sweat, which cools the body of the animal. - On the bends of the limbs of a camel, there are noticeable thickenings of elastic keratinized skin (the so-called corns), the thickness of which reaches 7 mm. When a camel lays on the ground, corns protect the most vulnerable parts of its body from injuries.
- At short distances, a camel can gallop at a speed of up to 25 km / h.
- The only hump of the dromedar is an analogue of the posterior hump of Bactrian. In the process of embryonic development, a second hump also forms in dromedar, but then disappears before birth.
KINDS
The family of camelids is represented by 6 species of animals: Dromedar, Asian Bactrian, as well as South American natives of llama, alpaca, guanaco and vicuna. All these animals feed on plant foods and are well adapted to the harsh living conditions in the mountains and deserts. The thick coat serves as excellent thermal insulation. The closest relatives to the dromedar are the Bactrian camel.
Bactrian Camel (Bactrian) ( Camelus bactrianus ) lives in the cold deserts of Central Asia. On his back there are two humps clearly separated from each other. These formations, filled with reserves of fat, stand upright, and in a nest without fat fall on the sides of the animal. Bactrian growth at the withers reaches 230 cm, and weight - up to 700 kg. His legs are shorter than that of the dromedar, and the coat is longer and much thicker.
Due to this, the two-humped camel tolerates significant temperature fluctuations - from a 50-degree heat in the summer to -25 ° C in the winter. Bactrian is able to do without watering for a long time, runs fast and is very hardy. He reaches puberty in 4-5 years and lives up to 50 years.
The camel is one-humped, or dromedar (Latin Camelus dromedaries) is a cloven-hoofed mammal from the family of Camelids (Latin Camelidae). He was tamed by a man over 5,000 years ago. Until now, nomadic tribes and peoples use these animals on an equal footing for carrying heavy loads and riding.
Dromedars supply their owners with meat, milk, warm wool and skins. A large number of camels still live in a semi-wild state, and in Australia there are completely feral specimens. At one time, the animal is able to drink about 130 liters of water. For many days it can exist without a watering hole, and even a 20% loss of water does not cause him to disturb physiological processes.
The habitat of one-humped camels extends to the territory of Africa and Asia. They were brought to Australia by the first settlers at the beginning of the 19th century. Part of the animals scattered and run wild. In other territories, camels have been domesticated or live in semi-wild herds.
In the wild, Dromedars inhabit regions with an average annual temperature of at least 20 ° C and with a small amount of precipitation up to 500 mm per year.
Breeding
During mating season males become very aggressive. They begin to vigorously rub odorous secrets of the occipital glands into the shoulder blades, grit their teeth and release a copious amount of saliva. At this time, fierce fights often break out between them.
Enraged opponents are desperately striking each other with their heads, beating with their front legs and biting. Fighting can occur even when lying down. The winner goes to the female, and she lays down in front of him, thus expressing her favor.
Pregnancy lasts 13 months. A camel is born weighing 25 to 50 kg. After the birth of the mother, the mother carefully sniffs the newborn, but does not lick, and the baby gets on its feet and immediately starts feeding. The very next day after birth, the cub begins to roam with its herd.
For three months, the camel adheres to a milk diet, and then begins to gradually get used to adult food. Most time camels devote to games with their peers. Often these games resemble dueling adult males.
Mother weans a year-old baby from the udder, although he still continues to eat milk. The puberty of females occurs at the age of 3-4 years, and males by 5-6 years. Once every two years, an adult camel is able to bear offspring.
Behavior
The one-humped camel is very well suited for living in the desert. Its thick coat protects the body well from the scorching sun and from the night cold. Tightly closed nostrils save the dromedar from a dust storm, and its eyes are protected by dense eyelashes.
On the soles of the animal there are pads made of elastic leather, which allow it to easily move around the loose sand. With its leisurely walk, a camel can overcome 5 km in one hour.
The one-humped camel is a unique mammal that can change its temperature depending on the time of day from 34 ° C to 41 ° C. When the temperature rises to 40 ° C, the animal sweats, and the sweat cools the whole body.
The only hump is an analogue of the hump of the Bactrian (two-humped camel). During embryonic development, a second hump forms in the dromedar, but before birth it disappears.
Camels usually live in small groups. Around one sexually mature male, about a dozen and a half females gather with teenage juveniles. Sometimes males gather in bachelor groups, and camels with camels in ladies.
With a small amount of food, herds disperse in the desert. For one day, the animal needs up to 50 kg of feed, and in order not to starve, it spends up to 12 hours a day in search of food.
Camels replenish their diet with one-day plants growing after rain, all kinds of cereals, bindweeds, acacias and salt marshes. To replenish the body with calcium and phosphorus, they chew on the bones of dead animals or fish.
In a well-fed dromedar, the hump is filled with fat to capacity, and its weight can reach 15 kg.
When there is a breakdown in feed, he can use his body fat, which in the process of chemical decomposition form water.
Description
The body length of an adult reaches 3 meters, the height at the withers is 2.3 m. The head is high. The nostrils are located above the eyes. Eyelids bordered with thick eyelashes that can protect your eyes from sand. Small round ears immersed in wool. The bifurcated upper lip allows you to break off the branches of prickly plants.
The long neck has a characteristic bend. On the back there is a hump, the size of which is individual for each animal. The color of the thick coat varies from fawn to brown. On the sternum and knee joints are calluses from rough skin. The legs are very long and end with a foot with two fingers.
The life expectancy of a single-humped camel is about 40 years.
A majestic ship “floats” among the sandy “mountains” of the desert ... Who do you think about? Well, of course, about the camel. Since ancient times, this animal has been called exactly that - “desert ship”. And there will no longer be an animal in the world capable of withstanding the scorching sun, while carrying a heavy load. The two-humped and one-humped camels are truly unique animals of their kind.
The appearance of the camel
At present, two species of these animals have survived on our planet: camels with one hump (dromedaries) and two-humped camels (bactrians). Outwardly, they differ not only in the number of humps.
Dromedaries have a slimmer physique. They have long legs, thanks to which they are able to run very fast. The growth of the average one-humped camel reaches 2.5 meters, and the weight in this case is from 300 to 700 kilograms. The color of the hair of dromedaries is mostly ash yellow.
Distinctive features Bactrians are considered, in addition to the presence of two humps: thick wool, higher growth (up to 2.7 meters) and weight (up to 800 kilograms), as well as a color that has a gray-yellow hue.
What are the humps of a camel? Contrary to popular belief that there is a large supply of water in the hump of an animal, it is worth saying that this part of the body of a camel consists of 100% adipose tissue. AND appearance humps speaks directly about the physical condition of the animal. If the camel is in great shape, well-fed and healthy, then its humps stick up when the animal is exhausted or sick, and the hump can sag or completely disappear.
Where do Dromedaries and Bactrians live?
The habitat of one-humped camels is considered mainly Africa. But they can also be found in central Asia. More than 100 years ago, dromedaries were even brought to the Australian continent.
Bactrians are residents of the Asian part of the continent of Eurasia. They live in Mongolia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kalmykia.
It is worth noting that in the wild, camels are found less and less, since they are massively domesticated by humans (especially Bactrians).
Camel behavior and lifestyle
Deserts and semi-deserts with their low trees and thorny bushes are ideal for living and living camels. Camels are sedentary animals, although they are characterized by long crossings within their plots. In the daytime, they prefer to lie down, chewing gum, and when night falls, they go to bed.
Listen to the voice of a one-humped camel
Camels are very good swimmers, despite their height and weight.
A feature of the Bactrian is their frost resistance. Due to their thick coat, they tolerate low temperatures (up to minus 40 degrees), but heat and drought are very destructive for them. What can not be said about the dromedaries: they prefer the hot sun rather than the cold.
What do two-humped and one-humped camels eat?
Camels are ruminant herbivores. They are unpretentious in food and can eat the most meager plants, such as bitter herbs, prickly branches, etc. Thanks to its fat reserves in the hump, the animal can do without food for about a month!
Camel breeding
The mating season in these animals begins in winter months (December - February).
Breeding lasts a year, and sometimes several months longer. After birth, camel babies feed on breast milk. A few hours after the birth, the cubs already stand on their feet and follow their mother. The full growth of offspring occurs in the fifth year of life. The life span of these animals is about 40-50 years
Natural enemies of a camel
Usually, no animals attack adults. But this can’t be said about small camels: they are a favorite object