Oont (Camel)
Camels are humped even-toed ungulate mammals, belonging to the genus Camelus. These are domestic desert animals vitally raised for transportation purpose followed by milk, wool, and dung. These long- legged creatures can reach up to a height of 7 feet with hump and weigh around 700 kgs. Characterized by a long curved neck, about 50 cm long tail, high hump, and large mouth, they have a lifespan of up to 40 years. In India, 85% of the camel population is found in Rajasthan followed by other states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The camel species found in India are Camelus bactrianus, Camelus dromedarius, Camelus gigas, Camelus hesternus, and Camelus sivalensis.
Camels can survive body temperature and water consumption changes which are impossible for other animals. The body temperature of camel ranges between 34 °C to 40 °C. Camels lose less fluid upto 1.3 liters which is much less compared to other livestock which tend to lose 20 to 40 liters per day. Camels have a rete mirabile, a complex of closely assembled veins and arteries that help them to utilize countercurrent blood flow to cool down blood reaching the brain. Even under temperature is 49 °C, camels rarely sweat and when they do, it evaporates at the skin level. The water vapor during exhaling process gets trapped in their nostrils and is reabsorbed by the body. Camels with green herbage diet ingest moisture that assists in keeping their bodies hydrated without any water intake.
Protylopus is the earliest known camel seen in North America 40 to 50 million years ago which was about rabbit sized. 35 million years ago, Poebrotherium were seen which had a size of a goat resembling the traits similar to camels. The direct ancestors of camels, Procamelus were seen in upper Miocene and lower Pliocene.
