What Purpose do Camels' Humps Serve?

Camels, those “schooners of the desert,” have played a crucial role in trade and culture in the Middle East, Africa and Asia for literally thousands of years. They have been used as currency for a bride price, for transport, shipping, food and clothing. Certainly one of the most distinctive features of this most useful animal is the hump. What purpose do camels’ humps serve? Why do they exist?

Camels’ humps are punishment, if one reads the story “How the Camel Got Its Hump” by Rudyard Kipling. In this amusing fable, Kipling paints a picture of an extremely lazy camel who would not work. His favorite word was “Humph.” When the chief djinn found out about the camel’s laziness, he went to see him and admonished him for being lazy. When the only reply he received was, “Humph,” that’s what the camel got on his back: a large “humph” of his very own, so he could go without eating for three days and catch up with the work he hadn’t done.

In the real world, camels’ humps serve that very purpose: camels can go for long periods of time without eating. Camels’ humps are made of fat, and will sustain the animal through long periods of travel and little food. They have other physiological features that also help them survive without eating or drinking, but camels’ humps are certainly the most noticeable.

Camels’ humps and their other adaptations have made them the preferred animal for desert travel for thousands of years, going places where no other vehicle or transport can go. The Bactrian camel is the two-hump variety most often seen in Asia, and a traveler of the Gobi Desert. The one-hump Dromedary camel is the animal that crosses the Sahara.

Since camels’ humps are made of fat, they provide immediate energy. It was once thought camels’ humps helped them stay hydrated, but this has been disproven, since the animals would use too much energy metabolizing the fat into water for it to be efficient. Rather, camels can drink up to 20 gallons (75.6 liters) of water at a time, and their bodies store this water for long periods.

Camels’ humps also signal the health and well-being of the animal. The hump begins to soften and shrink as the animal goes without food, but when the camel eats and rests, the hump is soon restored. Camel’s humps are a remarkable feature that assist the animals in perfectly adapting to their desert life.

The primary function of a camel's hump is to store fat, which the animal can convert into water and energy when sustenance is not available. This adaptation allows camels to endure long periods in harsh desert environments where food and water are scarce. When a camel uses the fat reserves, the hump can become flaccid and lean to one side.

Yes, camels can survive without water for extended periods, thanks in part to their humps. They are capable of going for up to two weeks without water under cool conditions. This is not only due to fat storage in their humps but also their ability to minimize water loss through efficient physiological processes, such as producing concentrated urine and having minimal sweat loss.

A camel's hump can store up to 36 kilograms (80 pounds) of fat, which can sustain the animal for several weeks or even months without food. This fat reserve can be metabolized into water and energy during times of scarcity, which is crucial for survival in the desert where camels typically live.

Yes, the size of a camel's hump can vary significantly based on its nutritional status. A well-fed camel will have a firm and upright hump, while a camel that has been using its fat reserves will have a smaller, slumped hump. The hump will replenish and return to its upright position once the camel refuels on food and water.

There are two main types of camels: the Dromedary, which has one hump, and the Bactrian, which has two humps. Both types store fat in their humps, but the Bactrian camel's additional hump gives it an extra reserve for survival in the even more extreme conditions of Central Asia's cold deserts.

The condition of a camel's hump can indeed be an indicator of its health and well-being. A plump and upright hump typically signifies a healthy and well-nourished camel. Conversely, a droopy or deflated hump may indicate that the camel has been using its fat reserves, possibly due to a lack of food or water, and may require attention.