You’ll learn all you need to know about the desert’s most famous humped animal with these 16 Interesting Camel Facts for Kids.
Despite what we’re led to believe, camels don’t store gallons of water in their humps like a portable well. Their humps are actually used to store fat, which they can live off for weeks, sometimes months! When food is scarce, camels will break down the fats in their humps to use as a source of nutrition. In fact, if a camel hasn’t eaten in a while, then its hump will start to droop as the fat stores empty.
This method of fat storage also helps regulate body temperature. In the hot desert, storing fat on their humps reduces their heat insulation, thereby helping to keep them cool during hot days.
The red blood cells found in camels are actually oval-shaped, not round like most other animals. This means that they are also much smaller, which allows for continued circulation even when the camel is dehydrated.
The blood cells of a camel also have the ability to expand up to 240% of their regular size with water when the camel rehydrates, which is why camels can drink up to 30 gallons in ten minutes. This adaptation for the camel is unique, because if any other animal did this, their blood cells would burst!
