Head to head
Wild Bactrian Camel vs Dromedary Camel
Wild Bactrian Camel
VS Dromedary Camel
The wild Bactrian camel and dromedary are two camel species of Old World deserts, one down to perhaps a thousand wild animals and the other numbering tens of millions under domestication.
| Wild Bactrian Camel | Dromedary Camel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Camelus ferus | Camelus dromedarius |
| Humps | Two small, conical humps of fat | One hump holding up to 36 kg of fat |
| Wild or domestic | A truly wild species, separate from the domestic Bactrian camel | Domesticated around 3,000 BCE in the Arabian Peninsula, with almost no truly wild dromedaries remaining |
| Range | The Gobi Desert of China and Mongolia | Domesticated across North Africa, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and South Asia, with large feral herds in Australia |
| Water | Can drink brackish water that is saltier than seawater | Can drink over 100 litres in 10 minutes without harm |
| Diet | Desert shrubs, thorny plants, and salty vegetation | Dry grasses, thorny shrubs, saltbush, and leaves other animals avoid |
| Population | Perhaps a thousand animals in the wild | Around 35 million domesticated worldwide |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population | Not Evaluated, abundant and increasing |
Wild Bactrian Camel vs Dromedary Camel: common questions
How many humps does each camel have?
The wild Bactrian camel has two humps, while the dromedary has one.
Which camel is truly wild?
The wild Bactrian camel, a separate species surviving in the Gobi, since almost no truly wild dromedaries remain.
Which camel drinks salty water?
The wild Bactrian camel, which can drink brackish water saltier than seawater.