Dromedar

Dromedar, or dromedary, refers to the one-humped camel, Camelus dromedarius. It is one of two living camel species; the other is the two-humped Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus). Dromedaries are native to the arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East, and have been widely domesticated across Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of Asia.

Physical characteristics include a single hump that stores fat, long legs, and a thick coat that can be light or dark. They typically stand about 1.8–2.1 meters at the shoulder and weigh around 450–600 kilograms, though size varies with climate and nutrition.

Adaptations include tolerance to extreme heat and dehydration. They can go several days to weeks without drinking water, regulate body temperature to reduce perspiration, and drink large volumes—often up to 150 liters—in a short period when water is available. Their red blood cells are oval, aiding fluid retention.

Behavior and ecology: They are social animals, often forming herds led by a dominant male or female. They are primarily grazers and browsers, feeding on grasses, leaves, and thorny vegetation. Reproduction: gestation about 13 months, usually a single calf born after year; calves travel with mothers for up to a year.

Uses and cultural significance: Dromedaries have been crucial pack animals and sources of milk, meat, leather, and transportation in arid regions for millennia. They remain important in many communities and are also kept in managed feral populations, and in some places outside their native range, such as Australia.