by Kathleen Hesketh

Created on: February 23, 2009

The Sahara Desert experiences some of the harshest weather conditions in the world. In a climate that recieves less than 3 inches of annual rainfall, and temperatures as high as 130 degrees, only those best suited to this environment could survive. The Dromedary Camel is just such an animal.

In a hot arid landscape where every drop of water is precious, the Dromedary can experience as much as a 30% drop in body fluids with no effect. Contrast this to other mammals whose threshold is half that, and the Dromedary rises as a desert survivor, uniquely suited to this environment of high heat and low humidity. Part of his adaptability comes from his changing body temperature. To conserve fluid, a camel's temperature may fluctuate nearly eight degrees. This reduces sweating and thus helps to prevent dehydration. Since water is scarce in the desert, the Dromedary is also capable of rehydrating quickly, drinking as much as 20 gallons of water in 10 minutes, a water consumption capable of killing most mammals.

A Dromedary's lips are uniquely designed to allow him to eat rough and thorny plants without puncture or injury. This is important in the desert where a meal may be scarce and the variety limited. Dromedary camels are known for their environmental awareness. When grazing, they will eat anything the desert has to offer, but eat only a few leaves from each plant. By selectively grazing in this way, the camel helps the plant survive the extreme desert conditions. To keep himself alive during times when food is scarce, the Dromedary relies on his hump. The Dromedary Camel's single hump is composed largely of fat. In lean times or during long desert treks, the camel can use this fat to fuel his body. The size of the hump determines the nutritional status of the camel with small leaning humps indicative of starvation.

In addition to extreme temperatures, the desert also experiences some extreme forms of weather. Sandstorms are driven before the prevailing northern winds and dust devils can form without warning, lasting several minutes. To defend himself, a camel will kneel in the sand and close his eyes. A double row of eyelashes form an impenetrable screen and tough pads on his knees and chest guard him from the hot sand. The camel's wooly coat is well suited to protecting the skin from both blowing sand and the intensity of the desert sun. In addition, the Dromedary has long hair covering the ears and he can seal his nostrils at the start of a desert storm.

The Dromedary

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