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More About Camels ...
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A camel is either of the two species of large even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus, the Dromedary and the Bactrian Camel. Both are native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa. The name camel comes from the Hebrew gamal, "to repay" or "requite", as the camel does the care of its master.
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 Vicuna. For an overview of the camel family, see camelid. For more information on the two true camels, see Dromedary and Bactrian Camel.
Family Camelidae
Genus Lama:
Llama Lama glama
Alpaca Lama glama pacos
Guanaco Lama guanicoe
Genus Vicugna:
Vicuna Vicugna vicugna
Genus Camelus
Dromedary, Camelus dromedarius
Bactrian Camel, Camelus bactrianus
Humans first domesticated camels many thousands of years ago. The Dromedary and the Bactrian Camel are both still used for milk, meat, and as beasts of burden—the Dromedary in northern Africa and western Asia; the Bactrian Camel further to the north and east in central Asia.
Although there are almost 13 million Dromedaries alive today, the species is extinct in the wild: all bar a handful are domesticated animals (mostly in Sudan, Somalia, India and nearby countries). There is, however, a substantial feral population of about 32,000 in central Australia, descended from individuals that escaped from captivity in the late 19th century.
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.
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Taxonmony
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: mammalia
Order: Artidactyla
Family: Camelidae
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Camels
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INFO LINKS
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Camel
Arab.net
"Contrary to popular belief, a camel does not store water in its hump. It is in fact a mound of fatty tissue from which the animal draws energy when food is hard to find". Lots of information on camels Read More
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Arabian (Dromedary) Camel
National Geographic
Arabian (Dromedary) Camel fact sheet and pictures; video clip Read More
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Bactrian Camel
National Geographic
Bactrian Camel fact sheet and pictures Read More
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Camel - organization
Wild Camel Protection Foundation
Protect Bactrian Camels Read More
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Dromedary Camel
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
FAQs on Dromedary Camel; includes habitat, food, and behavioral information Read More
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Bactrian Camel
National Zoo
Bactrian Camel fact sheet Read More
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Arabian Camel
Dromedarius
Detailed Information on different aspects Read More
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Arabian Camel
Sedgwick County Zoo
Arabian Camel fact sheet. "When camels get excited, or agitated, they can kick in all directions, so you have to be careful where you stand". Read More
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Dromedary Camel
Houston Zoo
About Dromedary Camel Read More
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