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With a conformation clearly conceived for
the desert life, the camel has an impressive number of
adaptation forms to such a rough environment. The camel is known
for her humps, but, in spite of the majority wide spread, the
camel hutches are full of fat, not of water. This thing allows
her to tolerate the dehydration very well. The most of the
animals die when they loose 20 percents of the corporeal weight,
but the camels can survive to a 40 percent lost from their
corporeal weight without any severe consequences. When they find
water again, the camels can drink the equivalent of one third of
their body weight, in only 10 minutes. Also, the camels can
eat almost everything that grows in the desert, including plants
that have a higher content of salt, that are rejected by the
other ruminant animals. The camel head has the eyes protected by
two rows of curved eyelashes and of the third eyelid that acts
like a screen wiper moving from one side to the other one, to
throw away the sand. The camels have bed plates as hard as corn,
wide, split, which doesn't allow the foot to sink in the sand.
After a period of gestation of one year, the female gives birth
to one single baby that is feed with milk till the age of one
year and half. The adult camels can have even 3 meters in height
and even 700 kilos. In general, the camel lives about 25 years,
although in captivity, some specific camels can live 50 years.
In Egypt you have al the chances to meet the camels; they are
gentle, friendly and used to people. In Giza, you can see the
camels on the Giza plateau and even ride one of them. |
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