Camel.
Publié le 11/05/2013
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Camel. Class Mammalia Order Artiodactyla Family Camelidae Genus Camelus Species bactrianus (Bactrian); dromedarius (Arabian or dromedary) Names male: bull female: cow young: calf group: herd Conservation The wild Bactrian camel is critically endangered due to domestication by humans. Concerns Range Asia and northern Africa. Habitat Deserts, semi-deserts, steppes, and plains. Size Shoulder Height: 1.8 to 2.3 m (5.9 to 7.5 ft) Weight: 300 to 690 kg (660 to 1,520 lb) Length: 2.3 to 3.5 m (7.5 to 11.5 ft). Feeding Habits Camels are herbivores; they eat desert vegetation, such as grasses, herbs, and leaves. Offspring The female camel gives birth to a single calf after a 13- to 15-month gestation period. The calf will nurse for 18 months or more. Life Span Up to 50 years. Did You Know Camels can close their nostrils to keep out dirt and sand. The camel stores fat, not water, in its hump. The hump becomes flaccid as the fat is metabolized. Camels can drink brackish or salty water without getting sick. Almost all camels are domesticated; only about 950 wild Bactrian camels remain. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.