Review of The Physiology of Water in a Camel

Camels are large mammals that reside in desert regions. They are known for going lengthy periods of time without water. They have this ability due in part to the shape of their blood cells. Their blood cells are large, numerous, and oval in shape. They have the ability to swell which allows for their capacity to carry oxygen and moisture. Their nose also acts a humidifier and de-humidifier. Their nose allows for moisture to be added or taken away depending on which is needed. This method for respiration helps to reduce water loss. Camels are also used for transportation purposes. Camels are exceptionally large animals who live in arid conditions. Their bodies have adapted to these conditions in order to maintain homeostasis. Camels are one of the largest yet graceful animals around.

The Camel is essentially the king of the desert. Camels are one of the most fascinating animals on the planet. They are massive and are known for going without water in desert regions. Camels are huge brown mammals who live in the sand. Camels are animals with very long necks, who reside in arid regions. Camels are known to have a hump or two on their backs are used by humans for transportation purposes. Camels can survive for extended periods of time without consuming food or drinking water. They are known for going prolonged periods without consuming water. They are known to live in deserts and have adapted to their land. According to the dictionary, the one-humped camel is call Camelus dromedariu. This one humped animal is currently only existing for domestic purposes. It is also known for being a feral animal. The two humped camel is known by the name, Camelus bactrianus. This animal dwells in desert and steppe regions of Northwestern China. It also dwells in Southwestern Mongolia. Camels are large long neck animals that are known to live in arid regions. The red blood cells of a camel are oval in shape or ellipsoids. They also have copious amounts of these cells. They have the ability to swell as much as 2.4 times their size. This increase in size allows for a bigger carrying capacity for oxygen and moisture. In comparison, a human’s blood can swell up to 1 and a half times its normal size before rupturing and potentially becoming fatal. Their shape is also elongated into one direction. This formation allows for the cells to align in the same direction. Doing so allows for a less of a “Sludging affecting the blood flow”.

The sludging is a slowing down of the blood cells. The formations allow the cells to flow quickly, all in the same direction. The reduction of sludging is important because a decrease in blood flow decreases the amount of nutrients and oxygen that is being delivered by the blood cells. A reduction in oxygen and nutrients can result in death. De-hydration is the cause of sludging. The loss of moisture from the blood, allows for the blood to become thicker. This thickness then decreases the flow of blood. The camel also has the ability to maintain ‘storage’ of CO2 and glucose in the blood.

Camels do have the ability to control their body temperature. Just like humans, camels can prevent loss of water by preventing sweat. They have this ability even in temperatures and conditions that would kill other animals and would certainly kill a human. Any sweat that is loss, is only loss on the skin level, preserving moisture. Camels move slow, and utilize the shade in order to try and stay cool. The heat of a desert can be inescapable for the camel. Camels have the ability to live in very extreme conditions. Their blood has the ability to carry more moisture and oxygen, thereby helping the camel maintain its homeostasis. The nose of a camel plays crucial part in its preservation for water. Its nose has the ability to be a de-humidifier or humidifier depending on the conditions, and as long as the air that is being breathed in is hydrated. The camel uses its nose as a humidifier when hot air is breathed in. This air then becomes humid and cool. This in turn cools down the body and keeps moisture from leaving the respiratory system. The lining of a camel’s nose has a large surface area. This large area helps to speed up the cooling down as evaporations takes place. The de-humidification takes place when air is exhaled. The nose has moisture absorbing material which transfers moisture, reducing water loss by 70%.

The camel’s nose is important for maintain the balance of moisture. Camels are known for their large humps. These humps can be used for transportation purposes by humans. Camels are an effective way to get around in harsh conditions. Camels have the ability to go almost a week without drinking. Camels live in desert, and food sources can be scarce. When a camel cannot find a source of food, their body then metabolizes their fat reserve for energy. “When a camel goes for particularly long periods of time without food, the humps can deflate and droop”. This droop can be reversed if they consume enough water. “Camels can tolerate a loss of water to 30% of body weight”. They do not have layers of fat under their skin, their fat is stored all in its humps. Most people think that the humps on a camel back are for storage of water. This is not true, the humps on a camel are fat which is used for food. This fat is stored in their large humps and used for energy. This conversion to energy produces water. “About every gram of fat can produce more than a gram of water”. This conversion has a limit to it. The fat that is stored is broken down to release hydrogen into the animal’s body. “This combines with oxygen in order to form water inside of the animal”. This water is used to help maintain the normal body conditions in a camel. Camels do drink water, and lots of it. A camel can drink many gallons of water at one time. “A camel may drink up to thirty gallons of water in fifteen minutes”. Camels can also get moisture from dew, or plants such as cacti. A camel’s humps are on top of its body for a reason. This fat is used for insulation. The insulation from the fat helps keep moisture from escaping the body in extreme temperatures. When a camel goes without water for food for a long time, its hump can deflate and become droopy. The camel has adapted mechanisms. These mechanisms allow it to with stand water deprivation. It has the ability to use its hump fat for fuel. The hair on a camel back also helps to maintain the water balance. “The thick hair helps to keep the heat at bay, and to protect the skin from the sun “. The hair is coarse and thick enough to keep the heat away from the camel’s body. The underside of the body has very thin hair. This thin haired area, allows for body heat to escape. The hair is thinner on the underside, and the skin is shaded. This shade also helps to cool the body. The kidneys are also elongated. “This morphology is suspected to be related to the variations in habait of the camel”. The structure of the kidney is designed to help with the retention of water.

Homeostatiss is important for the camel to stay healthy and alive. The hair on a camel and its kidneys both have their uses to help maintain the balance of water. Water is a necessity for all animals. Water needs to be taken in, in order to maintain homeostatisis, and keep the animal alive. In an experiment published in an article for Nature, Macfarlane, W.V., Morris, R.J.H., Howard, B, showed the turnover rates of water in animals exposed to average daily temperatures of 41 degrees Celcius. The camels used were non-lactating and lactating. Sheep and cattle were also used. “The camels showed a conservation of water by sweating”. Sweating was shown to be the most economical way to conserve water. The camels also showed less urine loss and less water loss by feces. This loss of water helps to maintain the amount of water in the body. This retention of water is important, and very effecting for the camel.