Camels, Camels, Camels
At the clinic I work at, we treat large and small animals. A very large portion of that is dedicated to camelids. While we mostly see alpacas and llamas, I do see one camel every day because my roommate owns him. Camels are really interesting, and weird animals.
A camel can drink 30 gallons of water in 10 minutes.
Camels are capable of losing safely 30% of their body's weight in water, which would kill any other animal.
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are normally circular, except in the family Camelidae, where they are oval. (Normal light refracting CBC machines can't count their blood cells because of this - so they have to be sent to special machines, or it has to be done by hand)
Camel blood contains 94% water, just like humans. But during dehydration, their blood can loseup to 40% of its water safely. According to doctors, human blood must stay very close to 94% water. If it loses 5% of its water, you go blind; at 10%, you can't hear and go insane; 12%, and your blood is as thick as molasses. Unable to circulate blood, you're dead
Camels minimize water loss through their waste. The camel's kidneys can concentrate their urine to the consistency of syrup with twice the salt content of sea water. And, their fecal pellets are so dry that they can be used for cooking fuel immediately after voiding.
The camel is one of the oldest domesticated animals, people have been using them for more than 10,000 years.
A camel's fur may be shades of brown, nearly white to almost black. They also come in piebald.
Camels have a split upper lip, which aids them in grazing.
A camel's ears are lined with fur to filter out sand and dust blowing into the ear canal.
A camel’s stomach has three sections.
At night, a camel's body temperature is 105 degrees. During the heatof the day, it's 93 degrees.
Camels may build up a pressure cooker of resentment toward human beings until the lid suddenly blows off and they go berserk. In Asia, when a camel driver senses trouble, he gives his coat to the animal. Rather like Japanese workers reported to work off frustrations by beating up models of their executives, the camel gives the garment hell-jumping on it, biting it, tearing it to pieces. When the camel feels it has blown its top enough, man and animal can live together in harmony again." (source: David Taylor, Zoo Vet, Lippincott)
Camels can drink brackish or salty water without getting sick.
Camels have two toes on each foot, each with a hoof on the front that looks like a toenail. They walk on their toes much like a woman wearing a pair of high heels. But, instead of a heel, a camel has a ball of fat that helps form the soft pad on the bottom of its foot.
Almost all camels are domesticated; only about 950 wild Bactrian camels remain.
Camels can close their nostrils to keep out dirt and sand.
Camels can live up to 50 years.
Unlike many other animals, camels move both legs on one side of the body at the same time.
Camels are built for extreme temperatures, from minus 40°F to well above 100°F.
While the term dromedary is used throughout the world to describe the species in general, the word originally comes from the Greek "dromos" which means road, and is technically referring to the racing or riding dromedaries.
And just for the lols. My dog annoying the camel:
Click to viewX-Posted to camelids
Thanks to Gelosia for the pictures/video for her camel (and my dog).