Book 1, Question 43 · Video
Why Do Camels Have Humps? It's Not What You Think!
Many people think a camel's hump holds water, but the page says it does not. The hump is a fat backpack, and keeping fat in one place helps the rest of the body dump heat in the ho
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do camels have humps?
The Big Idea
Lots of people think a camel's hump is full of water. It's not! A camel's hump is mostly fat. Hump equals fat!
Fat Backpack
Step one: the hump is a fat backpack, not a water tank. When food is scarce, the camel's body slowly uses that fat for energy. As the fat gets used up, the hump shrinks, and it can even flop over!
Dump Heat
Step two: keeping fat in one place helps dump heat. Fat is like a warm blanket. Fat all over its body would make a camel too hot in the desert sun. With fat piled in the hump, heat escapes easily from the rest of its body.
Gut and Blood
Step three: when a camel drinks, the water goes to its gut and blood, not the hump. Camels are super water savers. They make very dry poop! And on hot days, they let their bodies warm up instead of sweating a lot.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at a camel! Its hump is packed with stored fat. Long eyelashes help keep out blowing sand. Long legs lift its body away from the hot ground. And wide, padded feet walk on soft sand without sinking.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! A thirsty camel can drink more than one hundred liters of water in just ten to fifteen minutes! Dromedary camels have one hump. Bactrian camels have two! A big hump can hold about thirty-five kilograms of fat. And camels can go about a week without drinking.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Compare human fat and camel fat. Human fat is spread out, under the skin and around muscles and organs. Camel fat is stored in one tower-like hump. Try this: wrap one arm in a thick scarf, like a layer of fat. After a few minutes, which arm feels warmer? That's why camels keep fat in one place!
Outro
A camel's hump is a fat backpack, not a water tank! Science is full of surprises. Keep wondering! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!