Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
camel
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
A person wearing a headscarf rides a dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) decorated with patterned blankets across a sandy desert plain under a blue sky. A Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) with two humps stands on grassy open land under a clear blue sky. camels in Rajasthan Arabian camels, or dromedaries Arabian camel, or dromedary
Camel with its hump circled and an arrow pointing to the circle.
camel caravan in the Sahara An adult Arabian camel and its calf stand on rocky ground with orange desert dunes in the background in Oman. World map showing the geographic ranges of camelid species, with color-coded outlines for each: alpaca, llama, guanaco, and vicuna ranges are marked in South America; Arabian camel or dromedary in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia; domesticated Bactrian camel across Central Asia; and wild Bactrian camel in a small area of East Central Asia. Australia is shaded for introduced dromedaries. World map showing the historical evolution and distribution of camels and llamas, with present-day camelid ranges shaded in orange across Africa, Asia, and South America. North America is marked as the camelid source region. Colored arrows trace migration routes: green for camel ancestors moving to Eurasia and Africa, blue for llama ancestors migrating to South America, and additional arrows indicating more recent introductions to Australia and other regions. Insets note that camelids first emer
At a Glance
A Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) with two humps stands on grassy open land under a clear blue sky.
camel summary
Quizzes
Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.
Ultimate Animals Quiz
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters
Animal Group Names
Lion (panthera leo)
Deadliest Animals Quiz
Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)
Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz
Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)
Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz
Related Questions
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
A person wearing a headscarf rides a dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) decorated with patterned blankets across a sandy desert plain under a blue sky.
Arabian camel, or dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) Arabian camel, or dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), and rider.

camel

mammal
Also known as: Camelus
Written by
Lory Herbison and George W. Frame
Wildlife biologists. Authors of Swift and Enduring: Cheetahs and Wild Dogs of the Serengeti.
Lory Herbison and George W. Frame
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

camel, (genus Camelus), any of three species of large ruminating hoofed mammals of arid Africa and Asia known for their ability to go for long periods without drinking. The Arabian camel, or dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), has one back hump, while the domesticated Bactrian camel (C. bactrianus) and the wild Bactrian camel (C. ferus) have two. These “ships of the desert” have long been valued as pack or saddle animals, and they are also exploited for...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile