Gif Picture: camel

camel

Either of two species of large, hump-backed ruminants (family Camelidae) used as draft and saddle animals in desert regions, especially in Africa and Asia. Adaptations to windblown deserts include double rows of eyelashes, the ability to close the nostrils, and wide-spreading soft feet. Though docile when properly trained, camels can be dangerous. The Bactrian camel (C. bactrianus) is about 7 ft (2 m) tall at the top of the two humps; the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius), or dromedary, has one hump and is 7 ft (2 m) high at the shoulder. When food is available, camels store fat in their humps to be used later for sustenance and to manufacture water. They are thus able to go several days without drinking water.