Q:
How Many Humps Does a Camel Have?
A:
Quick Answer
Dromedary camels have one hump, while Bactrian camels have two humps. Dromedaries live in the deserts of the Middle East and north Africa. Bactrian camels live in northeastern Asia.
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Full Answer
The camel's hump is a mound of fat that can weigh as much as 80 pounds. The camel can survive for up to 2 weeks when food is scarce as its body consumes the fat reserves in the hump for nourishment. As the body uses the fat, the hump shrinks and leans to one side. As the camel eats, it replenishes its supply of fat, and the hump grows again.
A camel normally uses 5 gallons of water a day. While it doesn't store water in the hump, a camel's body has the capacity to conserve water and can compensate for a loss of as much as 25 gallons of water.
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