factoids from Paw Prints

Camels


camel

Fur on a camel
Camel milk is a staple food of desert nomad tribes and is richer in fat and protein than cow's milk.


Dromedary camel

Dromedary Camel
Dromedary camel in outback Australia, near Silverton, NSW.
Photographer: John O'Neill


Bactrian camel

Bactrian Camel
Bactrian Camel Camelus bactrianus at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, Oxfordshire, England.

  • The one-humped camel [of western Asia and northern Africa] is called a dromedary. The two-humped camel [of Chinese Turkestan and Mongolia] is called a Bactrian camel.
  • The two-humped camel is easier to handle than the one-humped camel. That's what camel drivers say.
  • King Tut probably did NOT ride a camel. He died in 1339 B.C. Camels didn't show up in North Africa (from Asia) until around 500 B.C.
  • Camels that people ride are females. Pack camels are males. Generally.
  • Camel's body temperature at night is 105 degrees F. During the heat of the day, it's 93 degrees F.
  • A camel's hump is fat, not water. But it produces water. Burning of fat for energy releases hydrogen. That combines with inhaled oxygen to create water. Each pound of fat in the hump creates a pint of water. Typical hump contains 80 pounds of fat.
  • Camels don't sweat. Don't pant, either.
  • Camels don't spit randomly at the object of their anger. They aim for the eyes.
  • Butter or yogurt made from camel's milk is said to have a very faint greenish tinge.
  • Camels snore.

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