Cheopian Camels
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D&D Stats

          Camel                Large Animal
          Hit Dice:            3d8+6 (19 hp)
          Initiative:          +3 (Dex)
          Speed:               50 ft.
          AC:                  13 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural)
          Attacks:             Bite +5 melee
          Damage:              Bite 1d4+6
          Face/Reach:          5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
          Special Attacks:     -
          Special Qualities:   Scent
          Saves:               Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +1
          Abilities:           Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 11, Cha 4
          Skills:              Listen +5, Spot +5
          Feats:               -
          Climate/Terrain:     Any desert, hill, and mountains
          Organization:        Solitary
          Challenge Rating:    1
          Treasure:            None
          Alignment:           Always neutral
          Advancement:         -

The two-humped, or Bactrian, camel is suited to cooler, rocky areas. It is stockier, slower (speed 40), and has a better Constitution score (16).

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a camel is up to 300 pounds; a medium load, 301-600 pounds; a heavy load, 601-900 pounds. A camel can drag 4,500 pounds.


Cheopian Camels are Dromedaries

The one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius ) is found in the Arabian deserts, while the two-humped camel (Camelus bactrianus) is an Asiatic animal.

The Dromedaries were domesticated before 3000 B.C. in the Arabian penninsula. The term "dromedary" is derived from the dromos (Greek for "road") and thus is directly applicable only to the racing or riding dromedary. However, the term is used throughout the world to describe this species. Dromedaries were first associated with nomadic Semitic cultures and did not become important until the rise of the Arabian culture. They became important domestic animals only with the Moslem conquests of Egypt in the 7th to 11th centuries A.D.

The Bedouin name for the 'one-hump' dromedary is "Ata Allah", God's gift. It is also frequently called "the ship of the desert". For the desert nomads, camels were more than an animal. They were a ticket for survival and a method of transportation, a friend, companion and a source of hair from which to make tents, clothes and much more. The camel was a provider of meat, milk and dung which can be burnt to keep warm.

Many varieties of dromedary exist in the world today. For example those in the northern Arabia are larger with heavier, bigger bones than those found in the south. Camels come in every shade of brown, from cream to almost black. The finest breed is said to be the Batiniyah from Oman. They have exquisite features; small head, ears long and eyes large. The most important asset is its extraordinary stamina.

Bedouins brand their camels and a brand known as a wasm is only used on camels and not horses, If a camel dies in the desert and the tribe or Bedouin have to leave the load while they carry on, they mark the load with the sign of the wasm. No other Bedouin who comes across the goods will touch it. The wasm is generally placed on the camel's thigh, cheek, shoulder or neck.

On riding camels, a small peg known as a khezam is tied through a small hole in the camel's nose: from it a string is attached. The cord is held with the reins and is gently used to direct the animal when riding. The ordinary saddle used in Arabia is different from those used in other parts of the world. It is called a Khorj. In racing young boys (as young as 6 years old) are tied down to the racing saddle so they don't fall off. A camels harness, known as rassan (which includes the reins) has not bit as with horse riding because the camel is steered with the nose string. In racing there are no stirrups and the feet dangle or are placed up on the saddle.


Durability:

A camel can go 5-7 days with little or no food and water, and can lose a quarter of its body weight without impairing its normal functions. A camel's preferred food is dates, grass and grains such as wheat and oats, but a working camel travelling across an area where food is scarce can easily survive on thorny scrub or whatever it can find - bones, seeds, dried leaves, or even its owner's tent!

The camel's hump is a mound of fatty tissue from which the animal draws energy when food becomes scarce or unavailable. When a camel uses its hump fat for sustenance, the mound becomes flabby and shrinks. If a camel draws too much fat, the small remaining lump will flop from it's upright position and hang down the camel's side. Food, salt, and a few days' rest will return the hump to its normal firm condition.

A misconception is that the hump also stores water - it does not but, thanks to the fact it loses body liquids slowly, a camel can go without drinking for several days. Their kidneys are capable of concentrating their urine markedly to reduce water loss. The urine can become as thick as syrup and have twice the salt content of sea water. They can extract water from their fecal pellets to such an extent that these can be used immediately for fuel upon voiding. It builds up a great thirst and at the end of a fast the camel can drink 21 gallons of water in a space of ten minutes. Such an amount would kill another mammal, but the camel's unique metabolism enables the animal to quickly store the water in its bloodstream. On average they need only to be watered every three to four days. Camels do not pant, and they perspire very little. Unlike humans, who start to sweat when the outside temperature rises above their normal body temperature, the camel has a unique body thermostat. It can allow its body temperature to rise considerably before perspiring, thereby conserving body fluids and avoiding unnecessary water loss. No other mammal can do this to the same extent. Because the camel's body temperature is often lower than air temperature, a group of resting camels can often avoid excessive heat by pressing against each other.


Behavior

Camels are unpredictable at best. They have the reputation of being bad-tempered and obstinate creatures who spit and kick. In reality, they are usually good-tempered, patient and intelligent. The moaning and bawling sound they make when they're loaded up and have to rise to their feet is like the grunting and heavy breathing of a weight-lifter in action, not a sign of displeasure at having to do some work. That said, according to David Taylor, Zoo Vet, Lippincott, camels also may build up a pressure cooker of resentment toward human beings until the lid suddenly blows off and they go berserk. In Asia, when a camel driver senses trouble, he gives his coat to the animal. Rather like Japanese workers reported to work off frustrations by beating up models of their executives, the camel gives the garment hell—jumping on it, biting it, tearing it to pieces. When the camel feels it has blown off enough steam, man and animal can again live together in harmony."


Speed

When walking, an ordinary riding camel can cover about four miles an hour. A working camel will typically cover 25 miles a day. When trotting, this increases to about eiight miles an hour. At a gallop some camels can run at ten to 12 miles an hour and are able to cover in a single day about 100 miles.


Height, Weight and Life Cycle

A fully-grown adult camel stands 6 feet at the shoulder and 7 feet at the hump. It can weigh up to 1500lbs. After a gestation periods of 13 months, a camel cow usually bears a single calf, and occasionally twins. The calves walk within hours of birth, but remain close to their mothers until they reach maturity at five years of age. The normal life span of a camel is 40 years, although a working camel retires from active duty at age 25.


Nose to Tail

Links:
Butterfly's Camel Links