Camels are an amazing species, made even more so by their incredible behaviour and remarkable physical characteristics. One of the most impressive of their features is their two humps or single hump (depending on the species), which enable them to survive harsh desert climates and long journeys without needing food or water for days at a time. Impressively, Guinness World Records even had an award-winning camel with four humps in 1970! This four-humped camel was believed to be a genetically unique dromedary camel, but apparently, no other camels have been reported with four humps since then.
Learn more about one-humped and two-humped camels by reading on.
We’ll also talk about the fascinating article that claimed a three-humped camel species had been discovered and disproved, as well as the four-humped camel that won the Guinness World Record.
Dromedary Camels: One Hump
The dromedary camel, also known as the Arabian camel, is an incredible desert-dwelling creature. Adapted to thrive in arid climates, these camels have just one hump that contains up to 80 pounds of fat bound with fibrous tissue.
Contrary to popular belief, this hump does not store water; instead, the fat can be broken down into energy and water when food sources are scarce or dry. With a single spongelike hump full of energy and with their excellent buffer of fat reserves, the tough dromedary camels can travel over 100 miles through the desert without drinking any water at all.
Furthermore, during times of scarcity, their hump will become smaller and even lean to one side due to their nutritional status. Today, almost all camels are domesticated and 90% of those consist of dromedaries – living proof that the species has been able to perfectly adapt to the harsh conditions they find themselves in.
Bactrian Camels: Two Humps
Belonging to the Camelidae family, Bactrian camels are one of a kind, as they boast not one, but two humps. Unfortunately, these majestic animals are critically endangered with an estimated population of less than 400 on the planet.
This is even more concerning when you consider that there is also a domesticated species of the Bactrian camel.
Characterised by their heavier and shorter physique in comparison to their dromedary counterparts, these creatures have adapted quite impressively to disturbances in their environment by having the ability to store energy and hydration sources in the form of fat within their unique humps which enables them to survive long periods without food.
Tribocus Camelus: Three-Humped Camel Or April Fool’s Joke?
In an exciting discovery revealed by Kawa News in 2019, a hitherto unknown species of camel boasting three humps have been found in the deserts of Oman. Dubbed Tribocus Camelus, the article also provided a photograph of this unusual animal and went on to feature interviews with experts in the field who offered insight into how this new species may have evolved over time.
Changes in global temperature were cited as one potential factor causing adaptations which lead to the emergence of three-humped camels, while others purported that ancient artefacts such as cave drawings could offer further evidence that this species existed even before 2019, but had yet to be discovered.
After further investigation, it is abundantly clear that the article claiming to have discovered a three-humped camel is simply an April Fool’s Day prank. The photo of the alleged creature was actually edited from a generic image of a dromedary camel.
Additionally, the experts cited in the report could not be found anywhere else on the web, and no other sources were able to corroborate its existence. All these factors seem to point to one inevitable conclusion: this article was meant as nothing more than a harmless spoof – it was nothing more than an elaborate ruse designed to make readers laugh.
Guinness World Record-Winning Four-Humped Camel
This extraordinary camel has gone down in history after being awarded an impressive distinction. Yet, this remarkable record set by a dromedary camel with four humps proves to be unique and mysterious 50 years after its initial recognition in 1970.
Considering that three-humped camels do not exist, four-humped camels remain an unsolved mystery until now. Although genetic anomalies do occasionally occur, the fact that no other examples have been documented makes this dromedary’s achievement even more special. Even relative to their normally two-humped counterparts, it appears that this record-breaking camel holds a place of its own in the Guinness Book of World Records as the holder of the “Camel with the Most Humps” title.
FAQs
Is there a 4 hump camel?
Although it may be fun to imagine, there is actually no such thing as a 4 hump camel. Camels are categorized into two types: one-hump camels known as dromedary camels and two-hump camels known as Bactrian camels.
How many humps can camels have?
Depending on the species, camels can have either one hump or two humps located right behind their heads, just above their shoulders.
Can camels have more than 1 hump?
Yes
Can camels have 6 humps?
Camels can have up to three humps, with two humps being the most commonly seen. Some camels will have between one and three humps, however, they are not able to grow six.
What is a pregnant camel called?
A pregnant camel is referred to as a dam, which is derived from the Arabic word for “female camel”.
Final Words
While one might think that four-humped camels must exist, this is actually a myth. Three species of camel remain today: the single-humped Arabian or dromedary, the critically endangered wild Bactrian with two humps and the domesticated Bactrian with the same features. In truth, any number higher than three humps is either unlikely to occur naturally or inflated by animal owners for fun. This was made apparent after news outlets reported a three-humped camel discovery in 2019, only to reveal that it had been an April Fool’s Day joke. Even stranger is the single four-humped camel which won a world record in 1970 – experts believe that this was likely due to an atypical genetic mutation rather than a true fourth species.
Reference:
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/camel-with-the-most-humps
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/camel-fact-sheet/
Rahul M Suresh
Visiting the Zoo can be an exciting and educational experience for all involved. As a guide, I have the privilege of helping students and visitors alike to appreciate these animals in their natural habitat as well as introducing them to the various aspects of zoo life. I provide detailed information about the individual animals and their habitats, giving visitors an opportunity to understand each one more fully and appreciate them in a more intimate way.
