A camel is either of the two species of large even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus, the Dromedary (Single hump) and the Bactrian Camel (Double hump). Both are native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa. The name camel comes via the Greek kamelos, the Arabic jamal or the Hebrew gamal, "camel".
The term camel is also used more broadly, to describe any of the six camel-like creatures in the family Camelidae: the two true camels, and the four South American camelids: Llama, Alpaca, Guanaco and Vicuna. For an overview of the camel family, see camelid. For more information on the two true camels, see Dromedary and Bactrian Camel.
Family Camelidae
Genus Lama:
Llama Lama glama
Alpaca Lama glama pacos
Guanaco Lama guanicoe
Genus Vicugna:
Vicuna Vicugna vicugna
Genus Camelus
Dromedary, Camelus dromedarius
Bactrian Camel, Camelus bactrianus
Camels are well known for their humps. They do not store water in them as is commonly believed. Their humps are a reservoir of fatty tissue, while water is stored in their blood. This allows them to survive days on end without food and water.
Bactrian camels have two coats: the warm inner coat of down and a rough outer coat which is long and hairy. They shed their fiber in clumps consisting of both coats and is normally gathered. They produce about 5 pounds of fiber annually. The fiber structure is similar to cashmere. The down is usually 1-3 inches long. Camel down does not felt easily. The down is spun into yarn for knitting.
Humans first domesticated camels approximately 5000 years ago. The Dromedary and the Bactrian Camel are both still used for milk, meat, and as beasts of burden—the Dromedary in northern Africa and western Asia; the Bactrian Camel further to the north and east in central Asia.
I found the camel llama hybrid part most interesting:
Camel Hybrids
The South American Camelids can be hybridized:
A male Alpaca/female Llama results is a Huarizo.
A male Vicuna/female Alpaca results is a Paco-vicuna.
A female Alpaca/male Llama results is a Misti.
A male Vicuna/female Llama results is a Llamo-vicuna.
A male Alpaca/female Guanaco results is a Paco-guanaco.
A male Guanaco/female Llama results is a Llama-guanaco (unusual in that the sire's name should form the first part of the hybrid's name).
A Llama/Alpaca cross which resembles the Llama parent is also known as a Warilla; but if it resembles the Alpaca parent it is called a T'aqa.
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-06 12:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-06 01:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-06 07:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-06 12:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-06 01:23 pm (UTC)I don't think I'd like playing a game about a dead camel.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-06 01:26 pm (UTC)Dromedaries
Date: 2006-07-06 01:51 pm (UTC)I found the camel llama hybrid part most interesting:
paging Mr. Nash to this thread
Date: 2006-07-06 02:16 pm (UTC)A two-L llama, he's a beast.
And I will bet a silk pajama
There isn't any three-L lllama.
Re: paging Mr. Nash to this thread
Date: 2006-07-06 03:00 pm (UTC)