Why Do Camels Have Humps? | Plants And Animals - Labroots

Login here Register Free Trending / Plants & Animals / Why Do Camels Have Humps? OCT 13, 2019 8:11 AM PDT Share Why Do Camels Have Humps? WRITTEN BY: Anthony Bouchard

Camels are predominantly known for the humps that appear on their backs, and believe it or not, those humps are filled with body fat. Some camels sport just one hump on their back, while others have two; but regardless of the number of humps a camel has, most scientists agree that those humps serve the same purpose to the animal.

To better understand the purpose of a camel’s hump, one need only take a closer look at the animal’s ancestral history. It wasn’t long ago that researchers discovered camel ancestor bones in the Arctic tundra, and based on this information, scientists have speculated that the fat-filled hump once served as a source of nourishment when food availability was scarce.

Even in modern day, camels often endure long and foodless journeys, and the fat in a camel’s hump can purportedly enable the animal to survive weeks or even months without grabbing a single bite to eat.

Today, camels exist in scalding hot deserts, and the hump is thought to help them survive there too. The hump works double-duty, with the fat continuously nourishing the animal and acting as an insulative layer that keeps the internal body temperature lower while trekking in a desert’s direct sunlight.

Indeed, these animals seem to be able to survive in even the most extreme environments, and they have their famous hump to thank for that.

Share About the Author Anthony Bouchard Other Fascinated by scientific discoveries and media, Anthony found his way here at LabRoots, where he would be able to dabble in the two. Anthony is a technology junkie that has vast experience in computer systems and automobile mechanics, as opposite as those sound. You May Also Like AUG 15, 2025 Cannabis Sciences Study Detects No Trace Amounts of THC in Cows Fed Hemp Byproduct Oregon State University (OSU) researchers examined the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cows fed hemp byproduct. ... Written By: Kerry Charron 4 OCT 21, 2025 Microbiology Clinical Trial Suggests New Antibody Can Prevent Malaria Malaria is a leading cause of death among children in sub-Saharan Africa, and is to blame for over 600,000 deaths worldw ... Written By: Carmen Leitch 3 NOV 30, 2025 Genetics & Genomics Most Dogs Still Carry Some Wolf DNA Many dog owners may not be surprised to learn that most dogs still carry some wolf DNA in their genomes. Domestication h ... Written By: Carmen Leitch 3 DEC 01, 2025 Microbiology Fever Doesn't Seem to Harm Bird Flu Viruses Influenza viruses are common, and the seasonal flu tends to infect many people every year. Influenza A viruses are the m ... Written By: Carmen Leitch 3 DEC 08, 2025 Cannabis Sciences Osmotic Stress Methods in Cannabis Cultivation ​A study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research examined the effects of precision water stress (also known as cro ... Written By: Kerry Charron 3 DEC 18, 2025 Cannabis Sciences Cannabis Use Increases Rapidly in Young Adults Cannabis use is rapidly increasing among young people in New York City. Written By: Annie Lennon 3 Loading Comments... Content Tags

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