Answer to Question #99443 in Zoology for Helen Najera

Question

Most mammals have a layer of cutaneous fat beneath the skin, but dromedary camels concentrate fat storage in their hump. What is the significance of that difference for the thermoregulation of camels?

Answer 1

The humps of camels are actually reservoirs of fatty tissue that is concentrating body fat in their humps are able to minimize heat insulation throughout the rest of their body during the day when the temperature is high so their body temperature rises. Then during night the extra heat dissipates through the rest of the camel’s body so that their body temperature is not too low when the temperature is cooler and results in adaptation to living in hot climates. When the tissues is matabolized it acts as a source of energy and yields more than 1 gm of water for each 1 gram of fat converted through reaction with oxygen from air. So this hump can also provide water when the camel needs it.