Dromedary

CLASS

Mammals

FAMILY

Camelidae

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Camelus dromedarius

WHERE IS IN THE PARK

Safari

The dromedary is an Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) mammal, from the Camelidae family. Originally native to Asia and North Africa, it has been introduced by humans in Australia. Today, approximately 13 millions of dromedaries live in different parts of the world, both captive and domesticated. The domestication of the dromedary has its origin in 4,000 AC, in the Arabian Peninsula. Humans selected this animal for its outstanding quality of tolerance to hostile climate environments, and for its indefatigability in covering long distances, also without water and food supplies. In addiction to exploiting these attributes, that make it a great beast of burden, mount and war, the dromedary is also bred for its milk, fat, meat, skin and hair.
The males, larger than females, can be 180 – 200 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh between 400 and 600 kg (exceptionally 1 ton). The single hump, that distinguishes the dromedaries from camels, can be up to 20 cm high, it is composed by fatty and fibrous tissue and is used as a supplying of nutrients. The colour of pelage, usually beige, can variate a lot, assuming colourations near to black and white.
The dromedaries prefer arid environments with scarce vegetation. They are diurnal, and form herds where the males are dominant. Gifted with the finest hearing and sense of smell, the dromedaries can live without water and without food for many days, thanks to special physiological adaptations. They can eat every kind of plant, even toxic ones. This mammal has no natural predators even if, occasionally, it can be hunted by wolves, lions and tigers.

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