Camels (extant/living species; Camelus spp.): Distribution & Habitat

• Early camels ranged from Asia to Eastern Europe.
• Some crossed into Africa, expanding across northern Africa and as far south as northern Tanzania.
• Wild Bactrian camel: 3 separated regions in China, 1 in Mongolia (click here for IUCN distribution map)
  • China
    • Gashun Gobi, in Gansu
    • Taklamakan Desert, in Xinjiang (this population may now be extinct)
    • Arjin Shan Lop Nur Nature Reserve' (est. 2000) and adjacent northern slopes of Arjin Shan mountains
    • Great Gobi Reserve A (est. 1982) and adjacent areas (Reading et al., 1999; Mix et al., 2002; Wang et al., 2002)
  • Mongolia
    • Trans Altai Govi Desert (Mix et al., 2002; Yadamsuren et al., 2004; Yadamsuren & Dovchindorj, 2005)
      • Foothills of the Edren Range to Shiveet Ulaan
      • Hükh Tömörtei Range to the state border
• Domestic animals have been introduced throughout the arid and semiarid regions of the world.
  • Domestic Bactrian camel
    • Cold desert regions of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China.
  • Dromedary
    • Hot arid deserts of Africa, India, and the Middle East
    • Most in Somalia and Sudan
    • A large feral population of dromedaries exists in Australia
  • Archeological finds indicate that both the dromedary and domestic Bactrian camel were imported into northern provinces of the Roman Empire for military and civilian use (Pigière & Henrotay, 2012).

Habitat of domestic camels

• Domestic animals have been introduced throughout the arid and semiarid regions of the world.
  • Domestic Bactrian camel
    • Cold desert regions of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China.
  • Dromedary
    • Hot arid deserts of Africa and Middle East Most in Somalia and Sudan.
  • A large feral population of dromedaries exists in Australia
  • Archeological finds indicate that both the dromedary and domestic Bactrian camel were imported into northern provinces of the Roman Empire for military and civilian use (Pigière & Henrotay, 2012).

Habitat of wild Bactrian camel

• Desolate mountain and desert areas
  • Rocky mountain massifs
  • Deserts: flat pavement-like expanses, sand dunes
  • Oases fringed with poplars (Populus)
• Sparse vegetation
  • Plants include: Haloxylon, Caragana, Salsola
• Large temperature range
  • Up to 60-70°C (140-160°F) in summer
  • Down to -30°C (-22°F) in winter
• May inhabit areas with no freshwater
• Adapted to drinking saltwater slush, which domestic camels will not touch.

Wild Bactrian camels, C. ferus, are restricted to a small part of China and Mongolia.

Adapted from www.d-maps.com according to IUCN fact sheet. Click here or on map for detailed distribution (IUCN).

FAO (2008)
Hare (2008)
Mix et al. (2002)
Pigiere & Henrotay (2012)
Tulgat & Schaller (1992)
Yadamsuren et al. (2004)
Yadamsuren & Dovchindorj (2005)