Mammals
Dromedary
Camelus dromedarius
The dromedary is the one-humped camel, domesticated thousands of years ago as a beast of burden in the deserts. Its wild form is extinct: the free-ranging animals, like Australia's large herds, are feral domestic camels.
In short
The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) is a species with IUCN conservation status EW (Extinct in the wild). It is superbly adapted to aridity: the hump stores fat, not water, and it can drink up to 100 litres in a few minutes after days without water. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the dromedary live?
It is superbly adapted to aridity: the hump stores fat, not water, and it can drink up to 100 litres in a few minutes after days without water. It tolerates wide swings in body temperature to save water.
Is the dromedary endangered?
The wild form of the dromedary is considered extinct in the wild (EW): today the animal survives only as a domestic species and in feral populations, such as Australia's large herds. No truly wild dromedaries remain in their original state.
Facts about the dromedary
- The hump stores fat, not water.
- It can drink up to 100 litres of water in a few minutes.
- Hundreds of thousands of feral dromedaries live in Australia.
Data source: Camelus dromedarius — forma selvatica Estinta in natura (EW); sopravvive solo domestica o inselvatichita
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.