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Camelidae Annie Wibking
Prepared for Principles of Evolution (Biol ) Austin Peay State University Biology Department
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Abstract The family of Camilidae includes the domesticated and wild Bactrian camel, the dromedary, guanaco, llama, vicuna and alpaca. The Camilidae originated in North America, but disappeared 10,000 years ago. The most ancient ancestor known is the Protylopus from 54 million years ago. The procamelus, found 23 million years ago, is the ancestor to the modern camel. The presentation focuses on the Bactrian camels and dromedaries, which are the largest of the Camilidae family. They are located in Asia and Africa. Traits common to all camels include: at least one hump, a long curved neck, broad large feet, tufted tails and an annual molt. Various physical characteristics allow them to survive in a harsh environment, including their humps, slit nostrils, shape of red blood cells, and long legs. About 95 percent of the Camilidae in Asia and Africa are dromedaries, with 5 percent domesticated Bactrian camels and a few thousand wild Bactrian camels. The Lamini subfamily will be mentioned briefly. These include the llamas, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos of south America. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Family Camelidae Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata (SubPhylum: Vertebrata) Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Camelidae Subfamily: Camelini Genus: Camelus Species: Camelus bactrianus - domestic Bactrian camel Species: Camelus dromedarius - dromedary Species: Camelus ferus - wild Bactrian camel Subfamily: Lamini Genus: Vicugna Species: Vicugna vicugna - vicuña Species: Vicugna pacos - alpaca Genus: Lama Species: Lama glama - llama Species: Lama guanacoe - guanaco July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Evolution of the Camel – Ancient Ancestors
Protylopus – 54 million years ago, oldest known camel, Size: 2.5 feet, wt. 57 lbs., 4 toes (hooves not pads), front legs shorter. Poebrotherium – 33 million years ago, size of sheep, looks like modern llama or prehistoric deer, hooved toes, 3 toes, wt lbs. Aepycamelus – 23 million years ago, 10 ft. high, lbs.., 2 toes, long legs Procamelus – 23 million years ago, 4.5 ft. tall, 2 toes, foot pads, 120 lbs., direct ancestor for modern camels. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Camels: Dromedary and Bactrian
Wild Bactrian Bactrian Dromedary July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Physical characteristics
all camel species at least 1 hump long curved necks broad large feet tufted tails annual molt Wild Bactrian 2 pointed humps 5.6 ft. 900 lbs. slender legs and narrow feet with claw like hoof Bactrian 2 humps are large and mound shape 6 ft. at shoulder lbs. broad feet with 2 toes Dromedary 1 hump 6.5 ft. lbs. legs long and lighter frame July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Evolution of the camelidae family
Origin in middle Eocene (55 to 40 million years ago) in North America, size of rabbits subfamilies diverged million years ago, Camelini included domesticated and wild camels and dromedaries in Asia, Middle East and North Africa migration of Camelini across Bering land bridge to Asia and India 3 million years ago, Lamini went to S. America Modern day camels Bactrian camels have 16 breeds,were domesticated years ago Dromedaries have 97 breeds, were domesticated yrs.. ago Wild Bactrian camels avoided domestication, isolated to Gobi desert and Mongolia July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Habitat archeological findings: dromedary and domestic Bactrian camel were imported to northern parts of Roman Empire for military and civilian use domestic Bactrian camel in cold desert region of Middle East and China dromedary in hot deserts of Africa especially Somalia and Sudan feral or wild population of dromedaries found in Australia Threats to survival wild Bactrian camels killed by hunters in China wolves are main non-human predator camels on critically endangered list July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Adaptations to survival
humps composed of fibrous tissue and fat, as a source of energy not for water storage; humps nearly disappear with starvation nostrils are slit-like and can be closed to protect against blowing sand, nasal cavities moisten air and trap moisture eyes have long lashes to protect against blowing sand and bony ridge protects against sun teeth: incisors and canine teeth grow throughout life red blood cells are oval for quicker flow in dehydrated state urine is more concentrated for less water loss kidney and intestines retain water can tolerate loss of water up to 30 percent of body wt. (most mammals die at 15 percent loss) wild Bactrian camel can drink saltwater slush long legs keep body further up from hot ground July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Activity and Behavior browse or graze 6-8 hrs./day and chew cud 6-8 hrs./day form small groups of 2-15 camels generally not aggressive except during mating season normal gait is to pace, fore and hind legs on same side move together can run 40 mph in short bursts, or 25 mph sustained speed if necessary can travel 93 miles in 20 hrs. Domestication by nomad yrs. ago provide meat, milk, hides and wool milk: 5 liter/day for Bactrian, 20 liters/day for dromedary used for transport and can carry 400 lbs. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Diet, Water & Salt 4 stomachs, breaks down plants in first 2 stomachs, regurgitates and chews as cud microbes in other stomachs assist in digestion eats grasses, leaves and twigs of shrubs can eat sharp, thorny plants able to go 4-5 days without water able to lower body temperature when dehydrated and produces only small amounts of concentrated urine in hot dry season may drink up to 200 liters of water/day needs 8x as much salt as cattle or sheep July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Reproduction Can reproduce only every 2 years
pregnancy lasts months mother does not lick and clean baby; cord breaks as infant falls to ground infant stands and walks shortly after birth eats grass at 2-3 months weaning at 1-2 years longevity is yrs. female camel generally produces 8 babies during lifetime Single births, no twins July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Total Numbers & Percentages
22 million camels dromedaries greater than 15 million, mainly in Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia 700,000 feral camels in Australia South American percentages: 47 % Llamas 41 % Alpacas 8 % Guanacos 4 % Vicunas July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Guanaco & Llama Guanaco: found mainly in Patagonia in S. America
can run up to 55 km/hr. grazers and browsers Llama: domesticated pack animal wt. up to 220 kg largest of the S. American camelidae July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Vicuna & Alpaca Vicuna: found in high Andean Mountains
survives on high altitude short grassland, lives above tree line and below the snowline smallest of camels needs to drink frequently Alpaca: known for production of long, thick wool herds of 50 or more found in central Andes July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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Distribution Left: Distribution and points of introduction of domestic camels Right: Past and current distribution of wild Bactrian camels July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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References Benirschke, Kurt. "Comparative Placentation." Comparative Placentation. UCSD.edu, 6 Apr Web. 08 Feb at Castellaro, G., T. Ullrich, B. Wackwitz, A. Raggi Composición botánica de la dieta de alpacas y llamas. Agric. Téc, 64(4): Accessed Feb. 8, 2017 at &lng=es&nrm=iso. COAG. "Chapter 7: Camels, Llamas and Alpacas." Chapter 7: Camels, Llamas and Alpacas. FAO of the UN, Web. 08 Feb at Cui, et al. "Camel Fact Sheet." Camel Fact Sheet. San Diego Zoo Global, Apr Web. 08 Feb at Myers, P "Camelidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 08, at Shapiro, Leo. "Camels, Llamas, and Relatives - Camelidae - Overview." Encyclopedia of Life. Encyclopedia of Life, 26 June Web. 08 Feb at July 22, 2012 Footer text here
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