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The Animal World - Do Camels Store Water In Their Humps?

Do camels store water in their humps?

Contrary to popular belief, the humps of camels are fat reservoirs and are not water reservoirs. Camels can go for ten months without a sip of water, as long as they can get sufficient moisture from green vegetation and dew. Camels have a number of physiological adaptations that allow them to forego water. For instance, camels can lose up to 40 percent of their body weight with no ill effects. A camel can also withstand a variation in body temperature of up to 14° Fahrenheit (-10° Celsius).

And when a camel reaches water, it can consume huge quantities in a short time. A camel can drink 30 gallons (113.4 liters) of water in ten minutes and up to 50 gallons (189 liters) over several hours.

Camels may have one hump or two humps. A one-humped camel is called a Dromedary, or Arabian, camel. A two-humped camel is called a Bactrian camel. Dromedary camels live in...

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