Unique Physiological and Behavioural Adaptive Features of The One-Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) to Arid Environments

Abstract

The dromedary camel is mainly found in the tropics of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian sub-content, where it is of great importance to nomadic and rural communities to provide high-quality animal protein in the form of milk and meat and as a means of transportation. In the Arabian Gulf region, the camel gained popularity and importance recently as a racing animal. The camel is well adapted to harsh environments characterized by inadequate water and vegetation, high ambient temperature, and rough terrain. Camels are working animals suited to their desert habitat and are a vital means of transport for humans and cargo, especially for rural farmers. There are three surviving species of camel. Camels originated in North America and eventually spread across Beringia to Asia. They survived in the Old World, and eventually, humans domesticated them and spread them globally. However, the literature on the physiological parameters of the camel is scanty. This review aims to provide a general overview of the physiological features of the camel and an update on the available studies of physiological and behavioural features of the camel and the effects of thermal environmental conditions on some physiological responses.