TABLE OF CONTENTS - National Zoo

BACTRIAN CAMEL
(Camelus bactrianus)
Herbivore
Description: The Bactrian, or two-humped, camel is characterized by a long, thin
neck, a small head, and a slender snout with a cleft upper lip. The hind part of the
body is contracted and they have a relatively short tail. The color varies from deep
brown to dusty gray. These camels have long hairs that are thickest on the head,
neck, humps, forelegs, and tip of the tail. The eyes have heavy lashes and the ears
are small and haired. Their long, slender legs have prominent knee pads. Contrary to
popular belief, camels do not “store” water in their humps, but they can go for very
long periods without drinking.
Teeth: Camels have one pair of incisors in the upper jaw and three pairs of incisors
in the lower jaw. The incisors, which are spatulate, are located in the forward,
somewhat upward position. The canines are nearly erect and pointed, and are
sometimes absent in the lower jaw. The molars have crescentic ridges of enamel on
their crowns. They have 2-3 pairs of premolars and three pairs of molars in both of
the jaws. Thus, the total number of teeth is between 30-34.
Diet: Camels are grazers, feeding on many kinds of grass, though, when hungry,
they will eat a wide variety of food. They thrive on salty plants that are wholly
rejected by other grazing mammals. If forced by hunger, they will eat fish, flesh,
bones, and skin.
Range: The bactrian camel was formerly found throughout the dry steppe and
semidesert zone from Soviet Central Asia to Mongolia. Today it is found on the Gobi
Steppe along rivers, but moves to the desert as soon as the snow melts.
Habitat: Wild camels inhabit semiarid to arid plains, grasslands, and deserts.
Social Organization: Camels are diurnal. They are found alone or in groups,
sometimes with over 30 individuals. Camels usually bear a single offspring, rarely
two. At 4 years, the young camel becomes wholly independent. Full growth is
attained at 5 years. Potential longevity is 50 years.
Conservation Status: Because of human population growth, there has been drastic
reduction in the range of wild camels, but domesticated members of the family have
spread over much of the world. In Central Asia, the Bactrian camel was
domesticated as early as the third and fourth centuries B.C., and its range was
extended from Asia Minor to northern China. Wild populations also remained
common until the 1920’s, but subsequently became restricted to relatively small
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