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Dromedary camels (Figure 1.1) are especially adapted to life in hot, arid areas of the world, notably the Middle East, North Africa, and India, with a large feral population in Australia. Dromedaries have been used since ancient times for transport of people and goods, warfare, food, fiber, and companionship. With the advent of modern transportation and the establishment of paved highways, camels have become somewhat obsolete. However, some countries still treasure some of the traditional uses of dromedaries and have fostered camel racing as a sport.

The Bactrian camel is adapted to the cooler, arid climates of Mongolia, southern areas of the former Soviet Union, China, and south‐central Asia. It is a beast of burden for carrying goods throughout its native lands and was the cargo carrier of goods along the Silk Road from inner China to the Mediterranean. Bactrian camels have a heavy fiber coat to cope with the cooler, arid climate and provide the bulk of the fiber used in the manufacturing of camel hair garments.

Table 1.4 outlines characteristics of camels.

Figure 1.11 Wooly‐necked llama. In Peru these animals are called “ch'aku” in Quechua.