The camel and the dromedary are very common animals for us. There are not a few movies set in the desert in which we have seen these animals carrying people and packages.
Despite how well known these two animals are, one of the most repeated questions about the animal world is the following: Who has two humps, the camel or the dromedary?
In addition to this question, both animals have other differences. Don't worry if you don't know the answer, today on our site we cover all the differences between a camel and a dromedary.
Differences in the origin of a camel and a dromedary
A fundamental difference between a camel and a dromedary is that they come from different places. Specifically, camels originate from Central Asia, while dromedaries come from the Arabian Peninsula.
The origins of a species imply several of its characteristics. For example:
Dromedaries are better prepared to withstand high temperatures than camels. We are referring to situations that exceed 50 degrees
For their part, camels have evolved to be able to withstand long periods of cold in the winter (think of the Gobi desert where it can take -40 degrees)
How many humps does a dromedary have?
Besides a recurring trivia question, the number of humps a camel and a dromedary have is the main difference between these two camelids.
Dromedaries have only one hump while camels have two
In both cases, the hump is a kind of fatty tissue deposit. There is a popular belief that humpbacks are filled with water, which is completely false.
Dromedaries use it as a reservoir of energy and reserve water before a long journey through the desert. According to National Geographic, you can store up to 80 pounds of fat in your hump. Another surprising fact is its absorption capacity. A thirsty dromedary can drink about 135 liters of water in just 15 minutes.
The camel, in addition to being an energy reserve, also uses its humps to protect itself from the cold. We have already seen that cold temperatures can be really extreme.
The camel and the dromedary have different coats
While the color is the same in both animals, the type of coat is different in the camel and the dromedary:
- The camel has longer fur, precisely because of what we mentioned before, to protect itself from the cold.
- On the other hand, the dromedary has short hair and is very even all over its body. This type of coat helps you better withstand the heat.
Camels are smaller than dromedaries
The Arabian camel or dromedary is taller since its legs are longer (so it moves further away from the heat transmitted by the I usually). While the dromedary can reach two meters in height, camels do not usually exceed one and a half meters.
It is curious since the same does not happen with weight. Camels are usually heavier than dromedaries.
The camel is less resistant, both to long journeys and to spending several days without eating or drinking. On the other hand, it is better to be able to climb mountainous terrain or where there is snow.
The camel is calmer than the dromedary
The dromedary's aggressive reactions are well known. Eye, only when disturbed. On the contrary, the camels are much calmer and it is rare to see an aggressive reaction in them. On the other hand, due to their physical constitution, they are less suitable for transporting people.
Another curiosity about humps
Both camels and dromedaries are capable of dehydrating up to 40%. This is due to the humps, which, as we have already seen, are filled with a fat that materializes into food and energy.
When a camelid begins to dehydrate, the humps begin to shrink. They even become flexible, being able to move on the side of the camel. As soon as the animal regains strength, the hump returns to a vertical position.
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