The desert is an extremely harsh environment, with extremely high temperatures, persistent drought, and a lack of vegetation and water sources, making it impossible for most plants and animals to survive here. However, camels are one of the few animals that are able to adapt and live in a desert environment. Camels possess some unique adaptive traits compared to cattle and sheep that make them the main inhabitants of the desert.
Camels have a special ability to store water. In the desert, water is scarce, but camels can go without drinking for long periods of time and survive even in situations of water shortage. Their blood is thicker than other animals and has a better water-holding capacity, allowing them to absorb and store water quickly after drinking. In addition, camels' urine is also more concentrated than in other animals, which reduces water loss.
Camels have special eating Xi. They have adapted to a reduced environment of herbivore and plant foods and are able to tolerate lower quality foods. The camel's stomach has three compartments that allow them to store food for a long time and digest it slowly. In addition, they are able to digest hard plants and can even eat desert plants with thriving spines, which other animals can't.
Camels have an excellent ability to adapt to sandstorms. Desert areas are often characterized by strong winds and sandstorms, which bring extreme weather and harsh environmental conditions. Camels have special eye and nostril structures that protect themselves from sand and dust. For example, their eyelashes and ciliary protective film block sand and dust from entering the eyes, and saddle-like nostrils keep sand particles from entering the respiratory tract.
Camels have unique characteristics such as water storage, special dietary Xi, and the ability to adapt to sandstorms and high temperatures, allowing them to live in extremely harsh environments such as deserts. These adaptive traits make camels one of the main animals in desert areas and have a survival advantage over other animals in this harsh environment.