Dromedary camels have been domesticated for so long that we may never know how wide their original habitats were. Camels’ bodies are perfect for long desert travel: their broad feet make walking on sand easier; their long eyelashes protect their eyes from sand; and their nostrils close to keep sand out. The hump on their backs is actually deposits of fat—stored energy for when the next oasis is miles away. Camels can survive without water for really long periods of time and can lose over forty percent of their body weight in water. (Most animals can only safely lose twenty percent.) Camels can also drink salty water and have been known to drink one third of their body weight in ten minutes! The thick fur found on their head and hump shed once a year. Camels roam in female herds accompanied by a single adult male. Other males live alone or in bachelor groups.