United Nations recently declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids

• A Camelid refers to any of the even-toed ungulates of the family Camelidae. E.g. camels, llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas. They are known for their remarkable adaptations to arid and high-altitude environments. These ungulates can be classified into two major groups: the Old World and the New World.
• The Old-World Camelids, found in northern Africa and central Asia are the true camels, such as the dromedary camels (one-humped camel) and the Bactrian camels (two-humped camel), characterized by
• their humps on their backs and
• the dulla, which is an organ found on the throat of male camels and is believed to be associated with the display of dominance among males and for attracting females.
• The South American Camelids (New World Camelids) include the modern llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas. Wild populations of South American Camelids, such as vicuñas, inhabit the high-altitude regions of the Andes Mountains.

General features of Camelids:

• They are even-toed ungulates. These mammals are characterized by having soft-padded, snowshoe-like feet where each foot has two toes.
• They have long necks and slender legs.
• Their upper lips are split into two independent mobile protrusions.
• These animals are herbivorous, primarily feeding on vegetation, and have a unique digestive system that allows them to extract nutrients from fibrous plant material.
• They are ruminants, but, unlike other ruminants, the Camelids have true canine teeth. Their stomachs have three chambers, in contrast to other ruminants that have four.
• One of their most recognizable traits is their ability to form herds

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Published date : 20 Dec 2023 11:49AM