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Camel, Bactrian
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Genus
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Camelus
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Species
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bactrianus
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Status
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Endangered
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Number Left
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400-500 in Mongolia
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Habitat
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deserts; in the Gobi, the temperatures range from -20ºF (-29ºC) in winter to over 100ºF (38ºC) in summer
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Distribution
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Gobi Desert; Mongolia and China
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Height
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75-91 inches (200-230 cm)
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Weight
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1000-1450 lbs (450-657 kg)
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Behavior
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During the heat of summer these camels climb to a cooler altitude of 11,000 feet (3350 meters) or more. They return to the lower, warmer areas during the cold winters. Bactrians are good at walking on the loose desert sands and gravel. They have thick eyelashes and nostrils, which can be opened and closed to protect them from blowing sand. Their wide hoofs allow them to walk across deep sand without sinking because their weight is spread out over the padded soles of their hoofs.
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Diet
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Plants
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Feeding
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Camels are famous for their ability to go without drinking for long periods of time - up to ten days. During dry periods, they get water from the plants they eat. When Bactrian camels come to a water hole, they can drink almost 30 gallons (114 liters) of water at one time.
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Conservation
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Only two wild herds of these camels still roam the Gobi Desert. It is unknown how many of these animals live in China, but only 400-500 remain in Mongolia. |
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Interesting Facts
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A camel with two humps is called a Bactrian camel. A camel with one hump is called a dromedary. Bactrians are darker, shorter, stockier, and shaggier than dromedaries. About 4000 years ago, Bactrian camels were discovered and domesticated. As a result, few are left in the wild. Bactrian camels are descendants of the camel family that appeared in North America 40-45 million years ago. 2-3 million years ago, the different types of camels left North America for unknown reasons. The ones that moved to South America evolved into llamas, and the ones that moved to Asia became the one-humped and two-humped camels. Their woolly hides protect them from heat and slow down sweating, which conserves moisture.
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Images and Video Clips
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Animal Communication Panel
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