Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Camel

The Camel is a "ruminant", or an animal that chews its cud. There are two kinds of camels, those that have one hump and those that have two. One-hump camels are called "Arabian camels" and are native to Africa, Saudi Arabia, and southwestern Asia. Camels with two humps--Bactrian camels--are native to central Asia. Both kinds have been domesticated. Arabian camels are adapted to hot climates, and Bactrian to cold.

Camel humps store fat which sustains the animals when food is scarce. They feed on vegetation and can go without water for up to three weeks.

 Camels have a gestation period of about 13 months, and usually bear one calf. Camels can live up to 40 years. They grow to seven feet in hight and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.

Camels are often bad-tempered and have been known to spit, kick, and bite.

Source: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/camel-info.htm