Their coat is darker and woollier and they have shorter legs than the dromedary. Unfortunately, despite the creation of a preserve, their numbers are very limited, probably fewer than 1,000, and they are considered endangered. In contrast, a large population of the domesticated Bactrian camel still exists. Bactrian camels are a excellent example of an animal that has adapted well to its environment. They are able to survive on the arid Asian steppes because of the biological strategies that enable them to cope with the severe temperature changes common to the Central Asia.
Camels can graze on a wide range of plants and thorny vegetation that other mammals avoid.
Most striking is their ability to survive long periods without water-a characteristic that humans recognized as useful and used for their own purposes. The camel's body conserves water by producing dry feces and concentrated urine. Body temperature may fluctuate by as much as 57 degrees Fahrenheit during the course of a day, which enables the animal to minimize water loss due to sweating. Although a camel may look scrawny and emaciated after a long, dry spell and its humps may become flaccid and flop to one side, it fills out quickly as soon as it gets water. In fact, a thirsty camel may drink up to 40 gallons in ten minutes.