Dromedary

Camelus dromedarius · The dromedary is a domesticated camel kept in the dry regions of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Thar desert of Pakistan and India, with a feral population in Australia.

Also called Arabian camel, Dromedary camel, One-humped camel.

Dromedary
Photo: Blackmysterieux, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dromedary
Photo: Jjron, CC BY-SA 3.0
Dromedary
Photo: Florian Prischl, CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderArtiodactyla
FamilyCamelidae
GenusCamelus
SpeciesCamelus dromedarius

Where it lives

Domesticated across North Africa, the Middle East and India; feral in Australia.

Fun facts

  • The dromedary is the only mammal with oval red blood cells, which help its blood keep flowing when it is dehydrated.
  • A thirsty dromedary can drink up to 114 litres in one go, gulping 10–20 litres per minute.
  • To impress females, a male blows up his soft palate into a deep pink sac nearly 18 cm long that hangs out of the side of his mouth.
  • Like giraffes, dromedaries walk by moving both legs on the same side of the body at the same time.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).