Animal Profiles
Mammals

Camel

Camelus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Camels are large dry-country mammals. This account describes the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), the one-humped domestic species used across arid parts of Africa and Asia.

Camelus dromedarius (camel)

Representative species: Camelus dromedarius.

Florian Prischl · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Habitat
Desert
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Dry-country plants.

Classification

Common name
Camel
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Camelus
Source classification
Mammalia

Three things to know

  • Its hump contains stored fat.
  • The species is predominantly domestic.
  • Feral populations occur in Australia.

Habitat and range

Dromedaries are kept in dry regions from northern Africa through the Middle East and into South Asia. Introduced animals also established feral populations in Australia; those are not surviving wild ancestral populations.

Appearance and adaptations

A single hump stores fat rather than water. A long neck and thick lips help the animal reach and handle coarse desert plants.

Diet and behaviour

Shrubs, grasses and other desert vegetation supply food. Animals browse over wide areas and ruminate after feeding. Social groups often contain females and young, while breeding males can become more competitive.

Sources

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