What the sources say
DromedaryCamelus dromedarius
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Dromedary profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 34 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
Profile updated
Source
01
Animal Diversity Web
Camelus dromedarius. Animal Diversity Web.
- The page saysThe desert animal that lets its body warm to 41.7 degrees Celsius instead of sweating as the day heats up.
- The source says
fluctuate its body temperature throughout the day from 34 degrees Celsius to 41.7 degrees Celsius. This fluctuation in body temperature allows the camel to conserve water by not sweating as the external temperature rises.
Note: tagline - The page saysArid regions of the Middle East, northern India and Africa, including the Sahara, and introduced to central Australia
- The source says
occupy arid regions of the Middle East through northern India and arid regions in Africa, most notably, the Sahara Desert. They have also been introduced to arid regions of central Australia
Note: stats.habitat - The page saysThorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush
- The source says
They eat primarily thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush
Note: stats.diet - The page saysLets its body temperature swing from 34 to 41.7 degrees Celsius so it can save water by not sweating as the day heats up
- The source says
fluctuate its body temperature throughout the day from 34 degrees Celsius to 41.7 degrees Celsius. This fluctuation in body temperature allows the camel to conserve water by not sweating as the external temperature rises.
Note: stats.superpower - The page saysA dromedary lets its body temperature climb and fall through the day, from 34 degrees Celsius to 41.7 degrees Celsius.
- The source says
fluctuate its body temperature throughout the day from 34 degrees Celsius to 41.7 degrees Celsius
- The page saysThat swing lets it conserve water by not sweating as the air heats up.
- The source says
This fluctuation in body temperature allows the camel to conserve water by not sweating as the external temperature rises.
- The page saysIt can also tolerate a water loss of more than 30%, a level that is lethal for most other mammals at 15%.
- The source says
can tolerate greater that 30% water loss, a condition which is lethal for most other mammals at 15%
Note: source spells 'greater that' - The page saysGroups avoid excess heat by pressing against each other.
- The source says
Groups of camels also avoid excess heat from the environment by pressing against each other.
- The page saysIts eyes have a double row of eyelashes against blowing sand, and at the onset of a sandstorm it can close its nostrils.
- The source says
Their eyes are protected from blowing sand and dust by a double row of eyelashes. Additionally, at the onset of a sandstorm, these camels have the ability to close their nostrils
- The page saysIts feet are pad-shaped and suited to sand, but sharp stones injure them easily.
- The source says
The feet of dromedaries are pad-shaped and adapted for traveling on sand. They can be easily injured on sharp stones
- The page saysThe lips are thickened for coarse, thorny plants, and the camel chews each bite 40 to 50 times.
- The source says
The lips of dromedary camels are thickened to allow consumption of coarse, thorny plants.
Note: chewing quote is the next claim - The page saysthe camel chews each bite 40 to 50 times
- The source says
then chew each bite 40-50 times
- The page saysThe hump is fat bound together by fibrous tissue, stored for times of need.
- The source says
The hump is composed of fat bound together by fibrous tissue, acting as food storage in times of need.
- The page saysMales weigh 400 to 600 kg and stand 1.8 to 2.0 m at the shoulder.
- The source says
weighing 400-600 kg, and are about 10 cm taller at shoulder height, measuring 1.8-2.0 m
- The page saysThe mass range for the species is 300 to 690 kg.
- The source says
Range mass 300 to 690 kg
- The page saysDromedaries occupy arid regions of the Middle East through northern India, and arid regions of Africa, notably the Sahara.
- The source says
occupy arid regions of the Middle East through northern India and arid regions in Africa, most notably, the Sahara Desert.
- The page saysThey have also been introduced to arid central Australia.
- The source says
They have also been introduced to arid regions of central Australia
- The page saysBecause dromedaries are domesticated, they have no special conservation status.
- The source says
Since dromedary camels are domesticated they have no special conservation status
- The page saysNot Evaluated
- The source says
IUCN Red List No special status
Note: stats.conservationStatus. ADW's 'No special status' anchors only that no Red List category applies. The dromedary is domesticated and has no Red List assessment of its own; the prefetch's 2025 DOI (taxon 63543) is Camelus ferus, the wild Bactrian camel, so no IUCN reference is cited. Precedent llama, domestic-cat, goat. - The page saysThey eat mainly thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush, and can browse up to 3.5 m high.
- The source says
They eat primarily thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush ... Dromedaries browse up to a height of 3.5 m
- The page saysThrough the day it can range from 34 degrees Celsius to 41.7 degrees Celsius. Warming up instead of sweating as the outside temperature rises is one of the ways it conserves water.
- The source says
Dromedary camels are able to conserve water in a variety of ways. Water is conserved by the camel's ability to fluctuate its body temperature throughout the day from 34 degrees Celsius to 41.7 degrees Celsius. This fluctuation in body temperature allows the camel to conserve water by not sweating as the external temperature rises.
- The page saysMales weigh 400 to 600 kg, about 10% more than females. The mass range given for the species as a whole is 300 to 690 kg.
- The source says
Male dromedaries, in comparison to females, are about 10% heavier, weighing 400-600 kg ... Range mass 300 to 690 kg
- The page saysFat, held together by fibrous tissue. It works as food storage, and the hump shrinks and leans to one side when the camel is starving.
- The source says
The hump is composed of fat bound together by fibrous tissue, acting as food storage in times of need. The size of the hump varies with the nutritional status of the camel, becoming smaller and leaning to one side during times of starvation.
- The page saysThey need 6 to 8 times as much salt as other animals to absorb and store water, so a third of their food must be halophytic plants
- The source says
dromedaries need 6 to 8 times as much salt as other animals for absorption and storage of water. Consequently, 1/3 of their food intake must be halophytic plants.
Note: 'meaning plants that thrive in salty soil' is a gloss on halophytic, not a claim - The page saysMoving them to other climates has proven unsuccessful, because they are sensitive to cold and humidity.
- The source says
Introduction of dromedary camels into other climates has proven unsuccessful as they are sensitive to cold and humidity
- The page saysA dromedary lets its body warm to 41.7 degrees Celsius as the day heats up, instead of sweating
- The source says
fluctuate its body temperature throughout the day from 34 degrees Celsius to 41.7 degrees Celsius. This fluctuation in body temperature allows the camel to conserve water by not sweating as the external temperature rises.
Note: vibe.reason - The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
- The source says
may, by virtue of their size, hurt humans, but with appropriate husbandry this is unlikely to occur
Note: stats.dangerLevel
Source
02
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, AnAge
AnAge entry for Camelus dromedarius. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, AnAge.
- The page saysThe record life in captivity is 28.4 years.
- The source says
Record longevity in captivity, however, is 28.4 years
- The page saysA potential lifespan of up to 50 years has been suggested, but AnAge notes that anecdotal reports of longer lives in domestic animals have not been verified.
- The source says
It has been suggested that the potential longevity of dromedaries is up to 50 years [ 0434 ]. ... Anecdotal reports indicate a longer lifespan of domestic animals, but this has not been verified.
- The page saysThe longest recorded life in captivity is 28.4 years. Up to 50 years has been put forward as a possible maximum, but longer lives reported for domestic camels are anecdotal and unverified.
- The source says
It has been suggested that the potential longevity of dromedaries is up to 50 years [ 0434 ]. Record longevity in captivity, however, is 28.4 years [ 0671 ]. Anecdotal reports indicate a longer lifespan of domestic animals, but this has not been verified.
- The page saysweightKg: 434
- The source says
Adult weight 434,000 g
Note: battleStats.weightKg
Source
03
Hamers-Casterman et al. 1993
Hamers-Casterman et al. (1993). Naturally occurring antibodies devoid of light chains. Nature.
- The page saysThe serum of the dromedary holds antibodies made of paired heavy chains with no light chains, and they still bind a wide range of targets.
- The source says
These molecules are composed of heavy-chain dimers and are devoid of light chains, but nevertheless have an extensive antigen-binding repertoire
- The page saysThe same paper reports that heavy-chain antibodies are a feature of all camelids.
- The source says
Heavy-chain IgGs are a feature of all camelids.
Source
04
Wu et al. 2014
Wu et al. (2014). Camelid genomes reveal evolution and adaptation to desert environments. Nature Communications.
- The page saysA 2014 genome study of the dromedary, Bactrian camel and alpaca found complex features related to desert adaptations, including fat and water metabolism.
- The source says
Here we present high-quality genome sequences of these three species. ... Comparative genomic analysis reveals complex features related to desert adaptations, including fat and water metabolism
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.