Camels are tough desert animals with humps on their backs and long eyelashes to keep sand out. They can go a long time without water and carry heavy loads across the hot desert. Let's trek into some fun camel facts!
🐪 Camel quick facts
- Animal type
- Mammal
- Home
- Deserts and dry lands of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia
- Food
- Desert plants, grass, leaves and even thorny shrubs
- Size
- About 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m) tall at the hump
- Life span
- About 40 years
25 Camel Facts for Kids
- There are two main kinds of camels: dromedaries with one hump and Bactrian camels with two humps.
- A fun way to remember: a dromedary's hump makes a 'D' shape, and a Bactrian's two humps make a 'B' shape lying on its side.
- Camel humps store fat, not water.
- The fat in the hump gives camels energy when food is hard to find.
- Camels can go a week or more without drinking water.
- A very thirsty camel can drink about 100 liters (over 25 gallons) of water in a short time.
- Camels have two rows of long eyelashes to keep sand out of their eyes.
- Camels can close their nostrils to keep out blowing sand.
- Camels have wide, padded feet that help them walk on soft sand without sinking.
- Camels have thick pads on their knees so they can kneel on hot ground.
- Camels' body temperature can change during the day to help them save water.
- Camels eat thorny desert plants that most animals can't, thanks to their tough mouths.
- A baby camel is called a calf.
- Baby camels are born without humps.
- Camels can carry heavy loads for long distances across the desert.
- Camels have been called 'ships of the desert.'
- Camels can run about 40 miles per hour (65 km/h) in short sprints.
- Camels walk by moving both legs on one side of their body at the same time, which makes them sway.
- Bactrian camels live in cold deserts and grow thick shaggy coats in winter.
- Wild Bactrian camels are very rare and live in the Gobi Desert of China and Mongolia.
- Camels grunt, moan and bellow to communicate.
- Camel milk is a healthy drink for many people in desert countries.
- There are many wild camels in Australia, brought there over 150 years ago.
- Llamas and alpacas are cousins of camels from South America.
- Alice the Camel from the song has five humps, but real camels only have one or two!
Questions kids ask about camels
Do camels store water in their humps?
No. Camel humps store fat, which the camel can use for energy. Camels can still go a long time without water because their bodies save it very well.
How many humps do camels have?
Dromedary camels have one hump and Bactrian camels have two humps.
How long can a camel go without water?
Camels can go a week or more without drinking, and even longer if they eat juicy plants.
What is a baby camel called?
A baby camel is called a calf. Calves are born without humps.
🎵 Sing Alice the Camel🦁 Play the Animal Quiz
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