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Taxa

Camelus

Mammal Genera

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 Distribution
Domesticated 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 Appearance
A 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
Genus 2
Scientific Name
Camelus 2
Member Species/Taxa Count
3 2
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Source Wikidata: Bactrian Camel
In the Other Atlases
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 Source
Wikidata: Camelus
Wikidata Q7375, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Wikidata: Bactrian Camel
Parent Taxon Of: Bactrian Camel, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
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