Camel
Camel refers to either of the two species of
Camelid. The camel is an
even-toed ungulate in the genus 'Camelus', the
Dromedary , and the
Bactrian Camel . They are native to the dry and
desert areas of Northern
Africa and
Asia, respectively. The average life expectancy of a camel is 30 to 50 years. The term
camel is also used more broadly, to describe any of the six camel-like creatures in the family
Camelidae: the two true camels, and the four South American camelids:
Llama,
Alpaca, Guanaco and Vicua.
The name
camel comes via the Greek
?????? from the Arabic
??? or the Hebrew
??? , all meaning "camel".
Encyclopedia
Camel refers to either of the two species of
Camelid. The camel is an
even-toed ungulate in the genus
'Camelus', the
Dromedary , and the
Bactrian Camel . They are native to the dry and
desert areas of Northern
Africa and
Asia, respectively. The average life expectancy of a camel is 30 to 50 years. The term
camel is also used more broadly, to describe any of the six camel-like creatures in the family
Camelidae: the two true camels, and the four South American camelids:
Llama,
Alpaca, Guanaco and
Vicuña.
The name
camel comes via the Greek
??µ???? from the Arabic
??? or the Hebrew
??? , all meaning "camel".
Bactrian camels have two coats: the warm inner coat of down and a rough outer coat which is long and hairy. They shed their fiber in clumps consisting of both coats and is normally gathered. They produce about 15 pounds of fiber annually. The fiber structure is similar to cashmere wool. The down is usually 1-3 inches long. Camel down does not felt easily. The down is spun into
yarn for
knitting.
Humans first domesticated camels between 3,500-3,000 years ago. The Dromedary and the Bactrian Camel are both still used for milk , meat, and as beasts of burden—the Dromedary in western Asia; the Bactrian Camel further to the north and east in central Asia.
Distribution and numbers
Although there are almost 13 million
DromedariesHobo Feet alive today, the species is all but extinct in the wild, persisting mainly as domesticated animals , as well as LalaLand], [[Namibia]] and [[Botswana]]. There is, however, a substantial [[feral]] population estimated at up to 700,000 in central parts of [[Australia]], descended from individuals introduced as means of transport in the [[19th century]] and early [[20th century]]. This population is growing at approximately 11% per year and in recent times the state government of [[South Australia]] has decided to cull the animals using aerial marksmen, the reason being that the camels use too much of the limited resources needed by sheep farmers. For more information, see [[Australian feral camel]].
The Bactrian Camel once had an enormous range, but is now reduced to an estimated 1.4 million animals, mostly domesticated. It is thought that there are about 1000 wild Bactrian Camels in the
Gobi Desert, and small numbers in
Iran,
Afghanistan,
Turkey and
Russia.
A small population of introduced camels, Dromedaries and Bactrians, survived in the
Southwest United States until the
1900s . These animals, imported from Turkey, were part of the US Camel Corps experiment and used as draft animals in mines, and escaped or were released after the project fell through.
Camel hybrids
Bactrian camel have two humps and are rugged cold-climate camels while Dromedaries have one hump and are desert dwellers. Dromedary hybrids are called Bukhts, are larger than either parent, have a single hump and are good draft camels. The females can be mated back to a Bactrian to produce ¾-bred riding camels. These hybrids are found in Kazakhstan.
The Cama is a camel/
llama hybrid bred by scientists who wanted to see how closely related the parent species were. The Dromedary Camel is six times the weight of a Llama, hence artificial insemination was required to impregnate the Llama female . Though born even smaller than a Llama cria, the Cama had the short ears and long tail of a camel, no hump and Llama-like cloven hooves rather than the Dromedary-like pads. At four years old, the Cama became sexually mature and interested in Llama and Guanaco females. A second Cama has since been produced using artificial insemination. Because Camels and Llamas both have 74
chromosomes, scientists hope that the Cama will be fertile. If so, there is potential for increasing size, meat/wool yield and pack/draft ability in South American camels. The Cama apparently inherited the poor temperament of both parents as well as demonstrating the relatedness of the New World and Old World camelids.
Adaptations to desert environment
Camels are well known for their humps. They do not, however,
literally store water in them as is commonly believed, though they do serve this purpose through roundabout means. Their humps are a reservoir of fatty tissue, while water is stored in their blood. However, when this tissue is metabolised, it is not only a source of energy, but yields through reaction with oxygen from the air 1111 g of water per 1000 g of fat. This allows them to survive without water for about two weeks, and without food for up to a month.
Their
red blood cells have an oval shape, unlike those of other mammals, which are circular. This is to facilitate their flow in a dehydrated state. These cells are also more stable, in order to withstand high
osmotic variation without rupturing, when drinking large amounts of water.
The
kidneys of a camel are very efficient. Urine comes out as a thick syrup and their feces is so dry that fires can burn off it.
Camels are able to withstand changes in
body temperature and water content that would kill most other animals. Their temperature ranges from 34°C at night up to 41°C at day; only above this threshold they start to sweat. This allows them to preserve about five litres of water a day. However, they can withstand at least 25% weight loss due to sweating.
The thick coat reflects sunlight. A shaved camel has to sweat 50% more to avoid overheating. It also insulates them from the intense heat that radiates from hot desert sand. Their long legs also help with this by keeping them further away from the sand.
Their mouth is very sturdy, to be able to eat thorny desert plants. Long eyelashes and ear hairs, together with sealable nostrils prevent sand from entering. Their pace and their widened feet help them move without sinking in.
All member species of the Camelids are known to have a highly unusual immune system, where part of the
antibody repertoire is composed of immunoglobulins without light chain. Whether and how this contributes to their resistance to harsh environments is currently unknown.
Cuisine
Dairy
Camel milk is a staple food of desert nomad tribes and is richer in fat and protein than cow's milk. Camel milk cannot be made into
butter in the traditional churning method; however, it can be made if it is soured first, churned, and then a clarifying agent is added or if it is churned at 24-25 °C, but times will vary greatly in achieving results. The milk can readily be made into
yogurt. Camel milk is said to have many healthful properties and is used as a medicinal product in
India;
Bedouin tribes believe that camel milk has great curative powers if the camel's diet is of certain plants. In
Ethiopia the milk is considered an aphrodisiac while other mystical powers are attributed to camel milk in other regions. Camel cheese has been made since 1993 by the Tiviski company in Mauritania.
Meat
A camel carcass can provide a substantial amount of meat. The male dromedary carcass can weigh 400kg or more while the carcass of a male Bactrian can weigh up to 650kg. The carcass of a female camel weighs less than the male ranging between 250 and 350kg, but provides a substantial amount of meat nonetheless. The brisket, ribs and loin are some of the preferred parts of the animal, however it is the hump that is considered a delicacy and most favored. It is reported that camel meat tastes like coarse beef but older camels can prove to be tough and not too flavorful.
Camel meat has been eaten for centuries. It has been recorded by
ancient Greek writers as an available dish in ancient
Persia at banquets, usually roasted whole. The ancient
Roman emperor
Heliogabalus enjoyed camel's heel. Camel meat is still eaten in certain regions including
Somalia where it is called
Hilib geyl,
Saudi Arabia,
Egypt,
Libya,
Sudan and other arid regions where alternative forms of protein may be limited or where camel meat has had a long cultural history. Not just the meat but also blood is a consumable item as is the case in northern
Kenya where camel blood is a source of
iron,
vitamin D, salts and minerals .
A recent report leads to some caution since cases have emerged of where eating raw camel liver has led to human plague .
Camel meat is however not considered
Kosher and Jews abstain from eating it.
Trivia
- Here's a way to remember a camel's type and number of humps. The letter 'B' for 'Bactrian' has two 'humps' and the letter 'D' for Dromedary has one 'hump'.
References
See also
External links
- - Video of camels pressing olive oil and cutting grass in Djerba, Tunisia
camals
