Is Isobel Carmody incorrect in describing that camels store water in there hump?? I love fiction but..........

Answer 1

Yes, she is absolutely right.

Answer 2

The camel does not store water in its hump.

A camel's hump is a giant mound of fat, actually. In a healthy, well-fed camel, the hump can weigh as much as 80 pounds (35 kilograms)! Human beings and most animals store their fat mixed in with muscle tissue or in a layer right beneath the skin. Camels are the only animals with a hump.

The hump allows a camel to survive an extremely long time (up to two weeks) without food if need be. Because camels typically live in the desert, where food can be scarce for long stretches, this is important.

A camel uses about 5 gallons (20 liters) of water a day in the summer. However, a camel can lose up to 25 gallons (100 liters) of water from its body tissues without ill effects. One thing that a camel can do to conserve water is to handle large body-temperature swings. A camel might start the day at 94 degrees F and allow its temperature to rise as high as 105 degrees F. Only at the upper end of this range does it need to sweat to prevent overheating. When you compare this temperature range to the range the human body can handle (where only a 2 degree rise indicates illness), you can see the advantage.

Answer 3

Isobel Carmody-- I can't find a reference to this name, but it's true that camels do not store water in their humps.
The humps are fatty tissues.

Camels can withstand drought because of the oval shape of their blood cells, because their kidneys and intestines take drought well, and probably many other factors I've forgotten already, though I just read it.

Put 'camel' in the search box at the link below and scroll down to "Eco...something" --if you are interested in all things camel. It actually is an interesting topic.

Thanks for bringing it up.
http://www.wikipedia.org

Answer 4

I don't know who Isobel is, but the following is from the Library of Congress:

"A camel's hump does not hold water at all - it actually stores fat. The camel uses it as nourishment when food is scarce. If a camel uses the fat inside the hump, the hump will become limp and droop down. With proper food and rest the hump will return to normal.

"The hump is not used for water storage, but camels can go for long periods of time without water. They drink large amounts of water - up to 20 gallons at a time. This water is stored in the animal's bloodstream."