CAMEL, LLAMA
			Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Species: Chordata Mammalia Artiodactyla Camlidae Camelus dromedarius Camelus bactrianus Lama peruana

Camels are indispensable animals to the desert people of Asia and Africa. They are a significant source of food, clothing, and shelter, as well as a major means of transportation.

Two species exist: the one-humped, or Arabian, camel, and the Bactrian, or two-humped camel. Arabian camels have longer legs and are lighter than Bactrian camels. Arabian camels, most of which live in Africa, are not usually wild, although there are herds which have descended from escaped domestic animals. But Bactrian camels, which are confined to Asia, have lived in the wild in the Gobi Desert in central Asia. Gobi camels are active by day and are extremely shy. They live in groups consisting of one mal e and about five females.

Camels have long legs, a long neck, coarse hair, and tufted tails. Their feet have two toes, united by a tough web, with nails and tough, padded soles. A camel can be 6 ft. (1.8 m) high at the shoulder and weighs up to 1,100 lb. (500 kg). The hump may wei gh 100 lb. (45 kg). It contains fat, a reserve of energy.

Well-adapted to desert life, a camel has long eyelashes which protect the eyes from windblown sand and has nostrils that are easily shut. The feet are broad and enable the camel to walk easily over soft sand. The form of its body, with long neck and legs, provides a large surface area relative to the body's volume, which allows for easy release of heat. But its best-known adaptation is the ability to go for a long time with very little food and drink. The camel sweats little, an action which helps it to r etain water. It obtains water by eating desert plants, but it can live on a totally dry diet for several weeks, although it will steadily dehydrate. It is able to lose up to one-quarter of its body weight in water without showing signs of distress. Thirst y camels have been known to drink 100 qt. (100 l) of water or more in ten minutes. The water passes from the stomach into the body tissues and, after such a drink the body looks swollen.

A domesticated member of the camel family, the llama is used as a beast of burden in Peru and other parts of South America. It is well adapted to working at high altitudes and is sure-footed on steep mountain trails. It can be stubborn, however, when it i s tired or when it considers a load to be too heavy . The llama weighs up to 300 lb. (136 kg) and stands 4 to 5 ft. (120 to 150 cm) at the shoulder. The llama is also kept for its meat, wool, and hide. Its dense, coarse coat is white, brown, or black in c olor.