Camelus is a genus of even-toed ungulates, the camels, in the family Camelidae, comprising three living species, the dromedary, which makes up about 94 percent of the world camel population, the domestic Bactrian camel at about 6 percent, and the endangered wild Bactrian camel. Camels are distinguished by fatty humps on their backs that store energy rather than water, oval-shaped red blood cells and an ability to withstand extreme dehydration. Roughly 14 million camels existed as of 2010, with the largest concentration in the Horn of Africa; domesticated dromedaries range across West Asia, North Africa and South Asia, and more than a million feral camels live in Australia.
Facts
Partially Attested
Geographic DistributionDomesticated dromedaries live mostly in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Maghreb, Middle East and South Asia 2 Quote covers the dromedary only; the wild Bactrian camel is separately reported as surviving in the Gobi Desert. Distinguishing AppearanceA full-grown adult dromedary stands 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) at the shoulder and 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) at the hump 2 Describes the dromedary only, not the genus as a whole. Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Species/Taxa Count Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Bactrian Camel
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Asia, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: South Asia, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: The Horn of Africa, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: The Sahel, found in there.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ7375, descriptionView the Source 2. Camel - Wikipedia
Lead, first sentence
is an even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus
Lead, first sentence, genus name clause
is an even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus
Lead, species count sentence
There are three surviving species of camel.
Distribution and numbers
Dromedaries alive today are domesticated animals (mostly living in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Maghreb, Middle East and South Asia).
Biology
A full-grown adult dromedary camel stands 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) at the shoulder and 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) at the hump.
View the SourceWikidata: Camelus
Wikidata: Bactrian Camel
Parent Taxon Of: Bactrian Camel, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.