Recently a friend of mine told me that the whole "camels store water in their humps" was really a popular legend. Is that true or not?
2007-02-15 22:42:45 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Oh, and by the way - why does it take 10 minuets to get at least one answer? Before you had 10 answers in a minuet.
2007-02-15 22:51:55 · update #1
Not even that. 45 mins and still counting...
2007-02-15 23:24:48 · update #2
A camel's hump is primarily fat deposits. It grows and shrinks with the amount of food and water that the camel takes in. The fat deposits are the camel's energy reserve for when it is crossing arid lands where the next blade of grass or water hole can be days away.
The myth comes from the fact that the camel does not need as much water as their human companions on long trips through the desert. As they traveled, the hump would get smaller as the calem drew on the energy stored in it.
2007-02-15 23:54:33 · answer #1 · answered by taliswoman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People used to think that camels stored water in their humps, but this is incorrect. Actually, camels store water in small, flask-shaped bags that line the insides of their stomachs, which have three sections. Camels can exist with very little food and water if they need to. Strong digestive systems help them get the most water and nutrients from the thorny plants, leaves, twigs, shrubs, and dried grasses they eat (and that most other animals wouldn’t think of eating). When there is plenty of food, they eat a lot and store fat in their humps. And when they are thirsty, they can drink as much as 25 gallons of water in 10 minutes! They conserve water because they hardly ever sweat, and because their nostrils remove moisture from their breath and recirculate it through their bodies,
2007-02-16 07:05:13 · answer #2 · answered by Mystic Magic 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answers above missed the most important thing. As the fatty substance in the hump is metabolized (broken down) it not only produces energy for the camel but water is also produced. So it's not water in the form of water but water comes from it when used.
2007-02-16 00:15:17 · answer #3 · answered by lightening rod 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah Camel can store water and food inside it actually camel can stay for 14 days without drinking water
2016-05-24 06:21:49 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO! It is a giant piece of fat! They are the only animals with humps! :)
2007-02-15 23:33:04 · answer #5 · answered by John Becker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is fat stored in them that they can use for energy for long periods of time.
2007-02-16 04:57:12 · answer #6 · answered by zoogrl2001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm.......I think what it has inside is fat, or its really water
2007-02-15 23:30:05 · answer #7 · answered by thenewhorzta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋