A one-humped dromedary camel standing in a rocky desert. — Photo: Florian Prischl, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dromedary Camel

Camelus dromedarius

The one-humped Arabian camel, built for hot deserts, that can go days without drinking.

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About the Dromedary Camel

Dromedary camels, or Arabian camels, have one hump that can store up to 80 pounds of fat for energy. They are tall with long legs and a curved neck, and usually tan. Two rows of long eyelashes and slit-like nostrils that close protect them from blowing sand. They live in the Middle East and the Sahara Desert, eat thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush, and can go four to seven days without drinking in severe heat.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Camelus dromedarius^[1]
Lifespan: 30 to 40 years in human care.^[1]
Diet: Herbivore. Thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush.^[1]
Habitat: Deserts with long dry seasons.^[1]
Where it lives: The Middle East and the Sahara; also parts of Europe and northern India.^[1]
Group life: Herds of 2 to 20. Active during the day.^[1]
Babies: One calf after up to 14 months.^[1]
Conservation status: Domestic. Not evaluated by the IUCN.^[1]

Fun facts

A dromedary's hump can store up to 80 pounds of fat.^[1]
Camels have two rows of eyelashes.^[1]
Baby camels are born without humps.^[1]

Vocabulary

hump: A mound of fat on a camel's back that stores energy.
pseudo-ruminant: An animal that chews cud but has fewer stomach chambers than a true ruminant.
callus: A thick, tough patch of skin.
arid: Very dry, with little rain.
domesticated: Tamed and raised by people over many generations.

See it in person

Oakland ZooOakland, California · African SavannaSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Oakland Zoo. “Dromedary Camel.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/dromedary-camel/ (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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