Scientific name for camel?

Camels are in genus Camelus. Two of the commen animals called camel include the Arabian Camel (or dromedary); this is Camelus dromedarius. The Bactrian Camel is Camelus bactrianus. Arabian Camels have one hump; Bactrian Camels have two.

Common Name: Camel
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Camelus

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Photo Gallery: Camels

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Species

Wild Bactrian Camel
camelus bactrianus ferus

They are listed as critically endangered with approximately 600 surviving in China and 300 in Mongolia.
Studies suggest a significant DNA difference. Wild camels have three more genes than domestic camels and so they have concluded that they are a completely different species. By comparison humans have five more than chimpanzees. Wild Bactrian camels do have some notable traits that distinguish them from their relatives. The animal can survive by drinking a saltwater slush that is unpalatable to its domestic cousins. Compared to domestic camels, wild camels have smaller humps, smaller feet, shorter hair and a more slender body shape.

Dromedary Camel

Camelus Dromedarius
(camel running)
Are from the Middle East and North Africa. Single hump. Head and body length: 9.6-11 feet. Shoulder height: 5.8-7.5 feet. Weight: 700-1500 pounds. Their color ranges from white, brown, tan, red, black and spotted. With their longer legs they can easly out run the Bactrian camel.

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Reproduction

Reproduction in camels

Puberty is achieved much late because of the environmental condition in which camels live in, usually around 3 years. However it can be attained as early as 18 months. Breeding should start from 4 to 6 years.

Pregnancy takes approximately 12 months for the dromedary type and 13½ months for the Bactrian. Camels have a slow growth rate therefore to attain a reasonable weight to be served takes a long time of up to 7 years.

camel and calf

Fast calving is offset because camels can breed for longer years than cows. Camels can have as many as 15 calves by the age of 40 years. Calving interval is prolonged by:-

The prolonged breeding period
Heat periods are suppressed for longer periods after birth
Adverse environment in which the camel is found. This period can be delayed by up to one year.
The level of nutrition – when feeds are inadequate, growth, maintenance and milk production have more priority than reproduction.

Generally a camel can get a calf every 3 years. Females come into heat throughout the year around the equator but heat become seasonal further away.

Males show signs of heat during certain times of the year when there is plenty of feed and pleasant weather. Rut (mustch) is the time when grown up males show keen interest in females and is usually difficult to handle them because they fight over females until the dominant one is found. At this time the males lose appetite and diarrhea frequently thereby deteriorating their working conditions.

A male to female ratio of 1:5 is recommended but this can go to as high as 1 to 80. Males that are not used for mating are castrated although this is debatable as it has been found that uncastrated males have a higher growth rate.

The female heat periods are not spontaneous and for ovulation to occur, copulation is required just like llamas, rabbits, and cats. Copulation takes long – about 30 minutes and others the whole day and they can ejaculate three to four times in one mating.

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