Dromedary
Tallest camel species, domesticated for millennia in arid lands.
The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), also called the Arabian camel or one-humped camel, is the tallest of the three camel species. Adult males stand at the shoulder, while females are slightly shorter; males typically weigh between set amounts, and females weigh less. Its most distinctive features include a long, curved neck, a narrow chest, a single hump made of fat bound by fibrous tissue, and long hairs on the throat, shoulders, and hump. The coat is generally a shade of brown, and the hump can reach a height of one meter or more. The dromedary feeds on foliage and desert vegetation and is highly adapted to arid environments, able to tolerate losing over 30% of its body water. Mating occurs annually, peaking in the rainy season, and females give birth to a single calf after a gestation of 15 months. It is mainly active during daylight and forms herds of about 20 individuals led by a dominant male. The dromedary has not existed in the wild for nearly 2,000 years; it was likely first domesticated in the Arabian Peninsula around 4,000 years ago. Originally, it inhabited arid regions such as the Sahara. Today, domesticated dromedaries are kept across semiarid to arid parts of the Old World, including Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Thar desert in Pakistan and India, with a feral population in Australia. Its meat and milk support several North African tribes, and it is commonly used for riding and as a pack animal. The common name "dromedary" derives from Greek words meaning "running" or "runner," first recorded in English in the 14th century. The species was formally named Camelus dromedarius by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
- species
- Camelus dromedarius
- height_male
- 1.8–2.4 m at shoulder
- height_female
- 1.7–1.9 m at shoulder
- gestation
- 15 months
Lore & Background
In the wild, it inhabited arid regions including the Sahara. Today, domesticated dromedaries are kept in semiarid to arid regions of the Old World, mainly in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Thar desert in Pakistan and India, with a feral population in Australia. The dromedary feeds on foliage and desert vegetation and can tolerate losing more than 30% of its total water content. Mating occurs annually, peaking in the rainy season, and females bear a single calf after 15 months. It is mainly active during daylight and forms herds of about 20 individuals led by a dominant male. The dromedary shares the genus Camelus with the Bactrian camel and the wild Bactrian camel. The two species often interbreed to produce fertile offspring, and hybrids are larger and stronger than their parents. The dromedary was given its current binomial name by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Reader's Guide
The dromedary has been central to human survival in arid environments for millennia. The species' ability to tolerate extreme water loss and feed on sparse vegetation made it indispensable in the Sahara, Arabia, and South Asia. Products of the dromedary support several North African tribes, and it is commonly used for riding and as a pack animal. Its significance extends to cultural and economic spheres, with feral populations in Australia demonstrating its adaptability. The dromedary's evolutionary history, including its divergence from the Bactrian camel and its role in ancient trade routes, underscores its importance as a domesticated species that shaped human civilization in dry regions.
Did You Know?
- The dromedary has 74 diploid chromosomes, the same as other camelids.
- A jawbone of a dromedary dating from 8,200 BC was found in Saudi Arabia.
- The dromedary's hump is made of fat bound together by fibrous tissue and is at least 20 cm tall.
- The common name 'dromedary' comes from the Greek word 'dromas', meaning 'running'.
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