Difference between camel and dromedary
The camel and the dromedary are mammalian animals belonging to the order Artiodactyla or ungulates with even fingers, that is, with hooves. The two animals are two different species of the same genus:
- Camelus dromedarius: it is the dromedary with a hump;
- Camelus bactrianus: it is the camel with two humps.
Both the camel and the dromedary have been domesticated by man, mainly for their ability to withstand the adverse climatic conditions of desert regions. They are used for milk, wool, meat, and transportation.
A rule of thumb to remember which is the camel and which is the dromedary:
- Dromedary starts with "D" which only has one hump.
- The Bactrian camel begins with "B" which has two humps.
| Camel | Dromedary | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Camelus bactrianus | Camelus dromedarius |
| Common name | Bactrian camel | Arabian camel |
| Humps | Two: | A; stores 36 kg of fat. |
| Location | Central Asia: China, Mongolia. | North Africa, Western Asia, central Australia. |
| Height | 1.80-2.3 m. |
Male: 1.8-2 m. Female: 1.7-1.9 m. |
| Weight | 300-1000 kg. |
Male: 400-600 kg. Female: 300-540 kg. |
| Extremities | Shorter and more robust. | Long and thin. |
| Fur | Dark to light brown, thick hair on head, neck, humps, legs and tail. It can measure 25 cm. | Brown, concentrated on the shoulders, hump and neck. |
What's a camel?
The camel is an animal with a more robust body that is characterized by having two humps. Its scientific name is Camelus bactrianus. The Bactrian camel is named after the ancient region of Bactria, where it is estimated that the domestication of this animal began.
Camel characteristics
- Two humps on the back: erect and full when there are nutritional resources, drooping and empty when there are nutritional deficiencies.
- More robust body.
- Double thick lashes.
- Long hair, which increases during the winter and sheds in the summer.
- Thicker limbs.
What is a dromedary?
The dromedary is a large mammalian animal belonging to the Camelidae family, with a scientific name Camelus dromedarius.
It shares the same gender as the camel, and is commonly known as the Arabian camel, as it is located mainly in North Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. In the 19th century, Australia imported dromedaries from India to be able to transit in the desert interior of the country.
Dromedary characteristics
A simple hump: 20 cm high, it is the fat store.
Long curved neck.
Narrower and taller body.
Double thick lashes.
The coat is brown long and concentrated hair on the throat, shoulders and hump.
Strong, thin and long limbs, with two toes on each leg.
