2LearnKept species
Dromedary camel
Camelus dromedarius
The dromedary is the one-humped camel of North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, kept for milk, meat, transport and racing. It is adapted to desert heat and can go a long time without drinking. It is a large, long-lived animal that needs experienced handling.
About
A large camel of the genus Camelus with one hump on its back.
- Family
- Camelidae
Keeping
How it is kept
Kept for
- Dairy
- Meat
- Draught work
- Mature weight
- 300–600 kg
- Gestation
- 390 days
- Temperament
- Calm with familiar handlers; bulls in rut can be dangerous
- Forage
- Browse and graze coarse, dry and salty plants, with good hay, minerals and salt. They drink a great deal at once when water is offered.
- Housing
- Large, dry paddocks with very strong fencing and shade. They suffer in cold, wet climates.
- Good to know
- Camels need experienced handling, especially bulls in the breeding season. They breed slowly, carrying a single calf for about thirteen months. Check local rules before buying, as some places treat camels differently from other livestock.
Photos, videos and notes
From keepers
Known as
Names around the world
- en
- dromedary, dromedary camel, Arabian camel, one-humped camel
Full detailsevery field on the record, to copy
- Name
- Dromedary camel
- Slug
- dromedary-camel
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Family
- Camelidae
- Genus
- Camelus
- Species
- dromedarius
- Wikidata QID
- Q71516
- Container suitable
- No
- Indoor suitable
- No
- OSSI pledged
- No
- Hazard level
- 1
- Data completeness
- 48
Generated sections & citations
summarywikidata