Camel humps are one of the most fascinating anatomical features in the animal kingdom. Learn how camel humps work and why they’re not filled with water.
Camel humps are the main storage area for body fat. If you notice, camels have almost no fat deposits on any parts of their bodies such as fat, round stomach areas, fat legs, or any fat in other areas animals or people commonly deposit body fat. Camels store almost all their fat reserves in their single or double humps. This fat can then be utilized in times when food is not readily available, making it easy for a camel to survive in arid lands where vegetation to eat may be scarce at times.
The proof that camels do not store water in their humps and do, in fact, store fat in their humps is evident in those cultures where camels are considered a dining delicacy. Many middle eastern countries consume camel as a well-loved protein source. When a camel is butchered and prepared for cooking, the hump may be cut into. Instead, fat deposits are revealed proving exactly what camels store in their humps.
Camel humps are like a back pack with food in it for long desert trips. Camels produce nutrient loaded milk that desert nomads live off of. All camels lose their fur in spring and grow a new coat. A camel looks sleek and slender for several weeks after losing its coat, but a thick coat of new fur grows by autumn. A camel stands from 5’9″ to 6’5″ tall at the shoulders, and weighs from 550 to 1,500 pounds.
Camel humps are not water reservoirs; rather, they’re fleshy fat reservoirs that the animal can use as a source of nutrition when food is scarce. “they can go without water for about 20 days; a cow or a horse would begin to die after two or three days. When a camel is born, its humps are empty. As it grows, the humps fill up in six months to a year. A camel calf is about 150 pounds when it’s born. A camel’s average life span is about 30 years. A third eyelid protects their eyes from dust and sand, and by voluntarily closing their nostrils they can reduce water evaporation. They have padded feet and can walk on sand or snow, but they don’t do well on ice.