A camel stands from 6 to 7 feet tall at the shoulders, and weighs from 1,000 to 1,600 pounds. An Arabian camel's hair is short and lies close to its body. A Bactrian camel's hair is longer. It may grow about 10 inches long on the animal's head, neck and hump.
All camels lose their guard hair and wool in the spring and then grow a new coat. The guard hair and wool comes off so fast that it hangs in large pieces, making the animal appear ragged. A camel has large eyes on the sides of its head. Each eye is protected by three eyelids. The two outer lids have long, curly eyelashes that keep sand from blowing into the eyes. A thin inner eyelid winks over the eyeball and wipes off any dust that may get in. Thick eyebrows shield the eyes from the desert sun. The camel's small, rounded ears are far back on it's head. The ears are covered with hair, even on the inside. The hair helps keep out the sand or dust that might blow into the ears.
A camel can carry as much as 1000 pounds with 400 pounds being more the norm. The animal can travel about 25 miles a day. They can run at a speed of about 10 miles an hour.
A female camel carries her young unborn calf for about 13 1/2 months. The baby camel can then be weaned at 5 to 6 months.
A camel can go several weeks without food and water drawing off of the fat stored in its humps. A camel keeps most of the water that is in its body. Most animals sweat when they are hot, and the evaporation of the water from their skin keeps them cool but, camels do not sweat much. Their body temperature may change as little as 11 degrees without harm.
