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Question of the Day
Question
Do the humps on camels hold water?
Answer
No - a camel's hump is a giant mound of fat, actually. In a healthy, well-fed camel
the hump can weigh as much as 80 pounds (35 kilograms)! Human beings and most animals
store their fat mixed in with muscle tissue or in a layer right beneath the skin.
Camels are the only animals with a hump.
The hump allows a camel to survive an extremely long time (up to 2 weeks) without food if need be.
Because camels typically live in the desert where food can be scarce for long stretches, this is important.
A camel uses about 5 gallons (20 liters) of water a day in the summer. However, a camel can lose
up to 25 gallons (100 liters) of water from its body tissues without ill effects. One thing that a camel
can do to conserve water is to handle large body temperature swings. A camel might start the day
at 94 degrees F and allow its temperature to rise as high as 105 degrees F. Only at the upper
end of this range does it need to sweat to prevent overheating. When you compare this temperature
range to the range the human body can handle (where only a 2 degree rise indicates illness),
you can see the advantage.
Other fun camel facts:
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