Camelus concordiae (SciiFii)

The white desert camel (Camelus concordiae), also known simply as the white camel, is a species of camel that originally lived from Syria during the Pleistocene and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to the open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands of both Syria and Arabia to help boost biodiversity. The white desert camel, unlike the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius), is not a desert specialist, despite its name, and primarily inhabits the open woodlands and the open plains of Arabia and Syria. The species is slightly smaller than the dromedary, which makes it one of the smallest Old world camels, usually weighing around 300-600 kilograms on average. It resembles the dromedary not only in size but also in morphology. Noticeable differences do occur, for instance, the white desert camel has a comparatively small head in relation to its body, the head is also relatively long. Like dromedary camels, the species' distinctive features include its long, curved neck, narrow chest, a single hump (compared with two on the Bactrian camel and wild Bactrian camel), and long hairs on the throat, shoulders and hump. The coat is generally a shade of light tan, almost white in color, hence the species' name. The hump is made of fat bound together by fibrous tissue. White desert camels are mainly active during daylight hours. They form herds of about 20 individuals, which are led by a dominant male. Like other camels, this camel feeds on a wide range of foliage; several adaptations, such as the ability to tolerate losing more than 20% of its total water content, allow it to tolerate the desert environment, but does not thrive in deserts due to being more suited in less arid landscapes. Mating occurs annually and peaks in the rainy season; females bear a single calf after a gestation of 15 months. The conservation status of the white desert camel is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss, threats of hybridization with dromedaries, and, historically, poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the white desert camel is a protected species and is making a comeback.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii