What is the Difference Between Camel and Dromedary?

The main difference between a camel and a dromedary lies in the number of humps and their species. There are two species of camels: the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) and the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Bactrian camels have:

• Two humps
• A domesticated and a wild type
• A habitat in the Gobi Desert in China and the Bactrian steppes of Mongolia

Dromedaries have:

• One hump
• A lighter build and longer limbs compared to Bactrian camels
• Shorter hairs and a harder palate
• An insignificant or absent ethmoidal facial node

Domesticated dromedary camels are found throughout desert areas in North Africa and the Middle East, while a feral population of dromedary camels lives in Australia. Bactrian camels are native to the Gobi Desert in China and the Bactrian steppes of Mongolia, and they are less aggressive than dromedaries.

Comparative Table: Camel vs Dromedary

The main differences between camels and dromedaries can be summarized in the table below:

Both camels and dromedaries belong to the camel family and are often confused due to their similar appearance. The most striking difference between the two is the number of humps on their backs, with camels having two humps and dromedaries having one hump.