Dromedary is one of two types of camels that live on our planet. It has been domesticated by humans for a very long time and is widely distributed as a pet, especially in the arid regions of Asia, Africa, Australia. The article will tell you what the name of a one-humped camel is, where it lives, what it looks like, what kind of lifestyle it leads.
The origin of the camels
Dromedary, or Dromedar (Latin Camelus dromedarius) is a one-humped camel. In addition to it, another species, Camelus bactrianus, or Bactrian, belongs to the genus Camels (Camelidae). This is a two-humped camel. The genus Camels is a member of the Camel family with llamas (two or three species) and vicunas (one species). Their characteristic features include two-fingered limbs with blunt nails (unlike other artiodactyls), the absence of horns, and a relatively long neck.
This family was once much larger, but many of its species became extinct due to climatic cataclysms in different eras. It originates from North America and totals 45 million years. Camelids came from this continent and gradually settled in Asia, Europe, South America, and the northern part of Africa.
Spread
The modern distribution area of camels does not coincide with their place of origin. So, the dromedary (this is a one-humped camel) is mainly distributed in northern Africa and the Middle East, while Bactrian is in China, Mongolia, and Central Asia. Small herds of wild Bactrian are still found in remote, inaccessible areas of China and Mongolia. Unlike its closest relative, the dromedary is a fully domesticated species, and wild one-humped camels, not counting the second run wild Australian, are not found in nature.
These animals were domesticated, according to scientists, in about the third millennium BC on the territory of the Arabian Peninsula.
Description
Dromedaries are much smaller than their closest relatives. So, if the growth of bactrian together with the humps can reach 2 m 70 cm, and to the humps - 2 m 30 cm, then the one-humped camel at the withers grows only up to 2 m 30 cm. The length of the body of the dromedars is from 2 m 30 cm to 3 m 40 cm, weight - from 300 to 700 kg, while a large thoroughbred male Bactrian can weigh a ton. The tail of a single-humped camel reaches a length of no more than 50 cm. The color of the coat is often sand, but can be lighter or darker, up to dark brown. On the head, neck and back of the dromedary camels, it is longer.
These animals have a long neck, an elongated head. The upper lip is split. On eyelids - long eyelashes.
Despite their unusual appearance, dromedaries are very harmoniously composed animals. They are long-legged, quite mobile, extremely hardy, and for residents of many desert regions are still indispensable assistants in the movement and transportation of goods. Here, a caravan of camels is still not uncommon. An animal can carry up to 150 kilograms. In addition, camels supply their owners with meat, milk and wool.
Suitability in a dry climate
This animal, justifiably nicknamed the desert ship, can go without water for a long time: under the load - a week, and in the free state - several months! This is due to the special properties of the body of a camel, allowing it not to sweat at temperatures below +40 degrees. Thick heat protects it from the heat and scorching rays of the sun. The amount of sweat glands on the skin is small. In addition, at night, the body temperature of camels decreases markedly, and during the day it heats up slowly. All this allows you to reduce sweat, and therefore the loss of body fluid.
In addition, a camel may not eat for a long time, receiving energy from the reserves of fat in the hump. The animal’s body is designed so that it can lose up to 25% of its own weight and up to 40% of the liquid, while remaining alive. But, getting to the water after a long absence in the diet, the dromedary is able to drink 100 liters at a time! At the same time, he drinks very quickly.
Breeding
Puberty in males occurs at the age of 4-6 years, in females - 3 years. Camel mating usually occurs in winter. Pregnancy in these animals is quite long, from a year to 440 days. One cub is born, which, several hours after birth, can already walk on its own. The mother feeds him milk for up to six months, after which the camel begins to feed on its own.
The diet of these animals consists of desert and steppe plants, including dry and prickly ones. Food enters the stomach with virtually underexposed food.
It is interesting
- Since the two types of camels, Bactrian and dromedary, are closely related, their representatives give birth to a viable hybrid offspring, which are called Nara (female Bactrian, male Dromedary) or inera (female Dromedary, male Bactrian). Hybrid animals have two humps on their backs, but fused together. These are hardy and strong animals. They are able to interbreed, but offspring often show signs of degeneration, so breeders try to avoid such cases by crossing hybrids with bactrians or dromedaries.
- It was said above that wild dromedaries do not occur in nature. However, in Australia there are populations of second-run wild single-humped camels. Having been brought here in 1866 in the amount of 100 individuals, they quickly bred. The reason for this was the lack of natural enemies - predators, like rabbits, who also literally flooded the entire continent. Today, their population exceeds 1 million individuals, and since 2008, authorities have been forced to take measures to limit their numbers by shooting. This is due to the fact that dromedaries are a real disaster for Australia. They cause serious damage to the environment, destroying up to 80% of vegetation in some places. In addition, a herd of camels can completely empty small ponds, and in a drought - even to demolish the fences enclosing farms, in search of water! Animals empty water supplies intended for sheep and other domestic animals, disable windmills, and endanger motorists on the roads.
- How long does a camel live? The average life expectancy of a desert ship is quite significant, 40-50 years.
- Dromedaries tolerate cold nights worse than Bactrian. This is due to the fact that their coat is much shorter.
Instead of a conclusion
The article examined the origin of camels, their classification, and also described the features of the appearance and behavior of the dromedary - this is a one-humped camel.
In addition to the application described above in the household, these animals are exploited in an unusual way - they arrange jumps. This sport is popular in the countries of the Middle East, Australia, Mongolia. There are special race breeds and special centers for preparing camels for competitions. Thus, these intelligent animals became human helpers not only in labor, but also in entertainment.