Camel

A camel is either of the two species of large even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus, the Dromedary (Single hump) and the Bactrian Camel (Double hump). Both types of camel are native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa. The name camel comes from the Greek kamelos from the Hebrew gamal, "camel".

Types of Camel - Camel family

The term camel is also used more broadly, to describe any of the six camel-like creatures in the family Camelidae: the two true camels, and the four South American camelids: Llama, Alpaca, Guanaco and Vicuña.

Facts about Camels - How long do camels live?

The average life expectancy of a camel is 30 to 50 years.

Bactrian Camels

Bactrian camels have three coats: the warm inner coat of down and a rough outer coat which is long and hairy. Bactrian camels shed their fiber in clumps consisting of both coats and is normally gathered. Bactrian camels produce about 15 pounds (2 kg) of fiber annually. The fiber structure is similar to cashmere wool. The down is usually 1-13 inches (2 to 8 cm) long. Camel down does not felt easily. The down is spun into yarn for knitting.

A camel at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego California

A camel at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego California