A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. The two surviving species of camel are the dromedary, or one-humped camels, which are native to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa; and Bactrian, or two-humped camels, which inhabit Central Asia. Both species have been domesticated; they provide milk, meat, hair for textiles or goods such as felted pouches, and are working animals.
Read more about Camel: Etymology, Biology, Domestication, Distribution and Numbers
Famous quotes containing the word camel:
“a camel comes handy
Wherever its sandy
Anywhere does for me.”
—Charles Edward Carryl (18411920)
“Alas, alas for Hamelin!
There came into many a burghers pate
A text which says that Heavens Gate
Opes to the rich at as easy rate
As the needles eye takes a camel in!”
—Robert Browning (18121889)
“Ask a wise man to dinner and hell upset everyone by his gloomy silence or tiresome questions. Invite him to a dance and youll have a camel prancing about. Haul him off to a public entertainment and his face will be enough to spoil the peoples entertainment.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 14661536)