It is the tallest of the three species of camel; adult males stand 1. Males typically weigh between and kg and 1, lb , and females weigh between and kg and 1, lb. The species' distinctive features include its long, curved neck, narrow chest, a single hump compared with two on the Bactrian camel and wild Bactrian camel , and long hairs on the throat, shoulders and hump.
The coat is generally a shade of brown. Dromedaries are mainly active during daylight hours. They form herds of about 20 individuals, which are led by a dominant male. Mating occurs annually and peaks in the rainy season; females bear a single calf after a gestation of 15 months.
The dromedary has not occurred naturally in the wild for nearly 2, years. It was probably first domesticated in the Arabian Peninsula about 4, years ago, or in Somalia where there are paintings in Laas Geel that figure it from 5, to 9, years ago.
In the wild, the dromedary inhabited arid regions, including the Sahara Desert. The domesticated dromedary is generally found in the semi-arid to arid regions of the Old World, mainly in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and a significant feral population occurs in Australia. Products of the dromedary, including its meat and milk, support several North African tribes; it is also commonly used for riding and as a pack animal.
The common name "dromedary" comes from the Old French dromedaire or the Late Latin dromedarius. Camelus ferus wild Bactrian camel. Camelus bactrianus domestic Bactrian camel. The dromedary shares the genus Camelus with the Bactrian camel C. The dromedary belongs to the family Camelidae. He named two species in his History of Animals ; the one-humped Arabian camel and the two-humped Bactrian camel.
