How can camels survive for a week or longer without drinking water?

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sand dunes — Desert Sand dunes in the Sahara, near Merzouga, Morocco.

It is a common misconception that camels store water in their humps; in reality, those humps store fatty tissue used for nourishment when food is scarce.1

Camels survive for long periods without water due to their extreme efficiency in water usage and unique physiological adaptations:1

Oval-shaped blood cells: Unlike the circular cells of other mammals, a camel’s blood cells are oval. This shape allows the cells to be more elastic, enabling the animal to consume up to 30 gallons of water in a single sitting.1
Circulatory efficiency: The oval shape of these cells also ensures that blood continues to flow easily even when the animal is dehydrated and water is scarce.1
Thermoregulation: While the humps do not store water, they help the animal regulate body temperature by concentrating fat in one area, which minimizes heat insulation across the rest of the body during the day.1

These specialized traits allow the camel to thrive in the desert environment despite limited access to hydration.1