The Camel

Sarah Kutchko Flickr: Kristof Acke

Scientific Name• Common Name: Camel • Scientific Name: Camelus dromedarius (one humped- camel of the hot

deserts of northern Africa and southwestern Asia) • Sub Species : Bactrain and Dromedary camels

Flickr: Charles Roffey

Dromedary vs. Bactrain

• National Geographic National Geographic

• Dromedary - Bactrain

Appearance

• Colors – Cream, Tan, Brown, Black • Height – 7 to 11.5 feet• Weight- 660lbs - 1,500lbs• Third eye lid to protect eyes from sand

Flickr: Charles Roffey

Lifespan • 40- 50 years • Age of sexual maturity : 3-5 years • Can survive for a very longtime on their own in the wildwithout worrying about manypredators

Flickr: Mike Pander

Reproduction• Camels are able to breed by the time they are between three and four years old for females and

five years old for males• Camels come into heat during the breeding season which usually lasts between November and

March.

Flickr: Retlaw Snellac Photography

Where camels live in Africa• There are millions of camels living in Africa, most of them can be found in

the ten countries that border the Sahara desert, (Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Mali, Sudan, Niger, Chad, Mauritania, and Western Sahara), as well as Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea (in the horn of Africa).

• Population : FAO data – more than 22 million worldwide, Majority are dromedaries (more than 15 million) Most in Somalia (7 million) and Sudan (4 million)

• Flickr: Charles Roffey

Threats?

• Critically endangered • Hunting• Drought

Flickr: yasmin

Predators?

• Humans are the only predators that the camel has

• Flickr: Saleh ALrashied

Habitat• The camels are migratory, and their habitat ranges from rocky

mountain massifs to flat arid desert, stony planes and sand dunes. Conditions are extremely harsh – vegetation is sparse, water sources are limited and temperatures are extreme, ranging from as low as -40°C in winter to 40°C in summer.

Flickr: flydime

What they eat

• Food choices are limited in the desert, so the camel is not exactly picky. Whatever twigs, stems and green shoots are available—except poisonous plants, which the camel can recognize—he will eat. The camel will even eat plants like saltbush, which are thorny and which most other animals will ignore. Camels have more access to greener options, such as willows and poplar leaves and twigs.

Behaviors

• Very unpredictable• Reputation of being bad tempered• Actually very intelligent and patient

Flickr: Carl Parks

Diseases

• Tuberculosis• Rabies• Internal Parasites• External Parasites

Flickr: FAHAD AL-OTAYBI

Interesting Facts

• 1. Camels are capable of losing safely 30% of their body's weight in water, which would kill any other animal

• 2. A camel stomach is made up of 3 compartments. • 3. Camels have straight spines, despite their humps..• 4. A camel has two toes and a pad on each foot. These

leathery pads spread as the camel walks on the desert sand, making it easier to walk on soft sand without sinking

Key Points

• Insanely endangered• Do not store water in their humps• Camels can go 30 days without water• Breeding season is between November and

March• No major predators, just humans who hunt

them• Critically endangered

Exam Questions

• What percentage of water can a camel lose safely?

• What adaptations in their eyes do they have to protect them from sand in the desert?

• What is the camels conservation status?• How long is the camels gestation period?

Works Cited1.) Samuel W. Fall. Life on the Hump. Copyright 2007. 2.) L. Skidmore. The Camel Reproduction Centre. 21-06-20083.) Anouk Zijlma. The Camel in Africa. 2014 About.com4.) Zoo, San Diego. Bactrian & Dromedary Camels. 2013. 2014.5.) Fund, Wild Camel Protection. Wild Camel . 2010. 2014.6.) Came-lot. People and Camels. 2005. 2014.7.) Facts, Best Fun. Camel Fun Facts . 2005. 2014.8.) Fund, Wild Camel Protection. Wild Camel . 2010. 2014.9.) Media, Demand. What food does a camel eat. n.d. 2014.10.) Safari, Camello. The amazing characteristics of camels. n.d. 2014.11.) ZSL. Evolutionary Distinctiveness . 1999. 2014.

Image Bibliography • a. Camel Flickr: ( Kristof Acke) (slide 1)• b. Flickr: (Charles Roffey )(slide 2)• c. Flickr: (Charles Roffey)(slide 3)• e. Flickr: (Mike Padr )(slide 4)• f. Flickr: (Mike Pandr ) (slide 5)• g. Flickr: (Charles Roffey )(slide 6)• h. Flickr: (Yasmin )(slide 7)• i. Flickr :(flydime) (slide 8)• j. Flickr: ( Saleh Alrashied) (slide 9)• k. Flickr: (fahad altoyabi) (slide 10)