Where camels live, others do not have a chance

Camels are a genus of cloven-hoofed animals, which is represented by two species - one-horned and two-humped. The first species lives in Africa, and the second - mainly in Asia. Animals are characterized by high endurance and the ability to do without water for a long time.

Characteristic features of the camel, which help him live in the desert

When you mention the place where camels live, there is an image of an animal surrounded by endless sand dunes. Its second name - the "ship of the desert", this amazing creature has received not in vain, since from time immemorial lives in hot and waterless territories.

To live in a similar way camel is possible due to the characteristic features. First, the animal has a thick layer of thick wool, which protects its body from overheating, and its body perfectly regulates the temperature. Secondly, thanks to a special metabolism, a camel can do with a small amount of food and more than two weeks to live without a sip of water. In addition, nature has endowed the animal with a special structure of the body, which allows him to live in the desert. This and the distinctive functionality of the legs, as well as the presence of thick eyebrows, eyelashes and special muscles located near the nostrils, which protect the animal from sandstorms.

Unique functions of the body

The main places where camels live are deserts and semi-deserts. To exist in such severe climatic conditions the animal can thanks to the unique functioning of its organism.

One of the most important moments is the presence of a thick wool cover, thanks to which the camel can withstand a fantastic temperature - from -29 to +38 degrees. Another important fact is the ability to adjust the body temperature depending on the environment. At night, it drops sharply and slowly rises to the middle of the day. Due to this, the camel is not hot, even if the temperature around it is much higher.

Features of drinking regime

Thanks to the unique processes of thermoregulation of the body, the camel practically does not sweat, as a result of which it loses its moisture several times slower than other animals in the same climatic conditions. But, of course, the most fantastic possibility of this creature is the ability to do without water near the crescent moon. This is especially important given the special environment in which camels live. During an extended stay without fluid, the organism of this animal loses almost a third of its mass. For any other living creature, this would be equivalent to death, but the camel has a unique ability to quickly return lost weight. In just a few minutes he can drink about 15 liters of water.

There are several explanations for why a camel can do without water for so long. Some scientists point to the retention of fluid in the stomach of the animal, others to the fact that the fat reserves in the humps of the creature can gradually melt and release water from themselves. Relatively recently, a new theory appeared, according to which the additional liquid is received from the blood by the camel. The animal has a special structure of electrocites, which can freely move through blood vessels, even when due to dehydration its blood becomes thicker. It is also important that these animals can drink salty water, which is especially important given the regions where camels live.

Features of food

Animals are very unpretentious to eat. They can eat almost everything - barbed grass, old leaves and other food that is inedible for other animals. This serves as further evidence of why a camel lives in a desert where other living beings have virtually no chance of surviving. Most often in its diet fall various bushes, which have long roots, capable of reaching groundwater.

Of course, if there is a luscious green feed, the animal will not eat dry grass, especially since in this case it does not need water. However, observations have shown that with long-term nutrition, the camel feels much worse.

How many years live camels

The newborn camel appears light and covered with hair, and after a few hours begins to walk. Mother's milk feeds the animal for about one and a half years, and puberty reaches about 3-5 years. As to how many camels live, the average duration is about 35-40 years, and some individuals live even up to 70. It is also interesting that one-horned animals live longer and survive their bunny-humped brethren for about 5-10 years.

Camels are unique animals that, due to their special structure, functionality of the organism and distinctive ways of feeding, can live in deserts and semi-deserts. Animals have strong physical endurance and the ability to do without water for about two weeks, which is a death sentence for other animals. Despite life in severe climatic conditions, these creatures grow to significant size and live long enough.