Do the humps on camels hold water?
 The
humps on a camel's back are actually huge heaps
of fat and flesh that can weigh as much as 80 pounds in a healthy camel. These
humps help camels survive for weeks without food and water.
When water and food become scarce on the deserts where camels roam, the fatty
humps serve as stored food and are used for nourishment. As the camel's body metabolizes(产生代谢变化)
or uses up the humps' stored fat, the hump becomes smaller and flabbier. So the
longer the camel goes without eating, the smaller its hump gets. The size of a
camel's hump helps determine a camel's health, food sources, and overall
well-being.
These humps, or reserves of fat, are the reason why camels can go for days
without water and food. While humans are supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a
day, camels can go without water for up to 2 weeks!
Camel characteristics:
Camels are the only animals with humps.
Camels can produce up to 600 liters of milk a year.
Camels can close their nostrils.
Camels eat just about anything. When camels are really hungry and there is no
food around, they won't think twice about gobbling up people's tents, sandals,
or blankets.
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