Distribution. A in Camelidae

Distribution. A species found in the arid and semi-arid regions of N Africa to the Middle East, and parts of C Asia. A sizeabledfreeranging/feral population in C&W Australia. The Dromedary overlaps with the domestic Bactrian Camel (C. bactrianus) in Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. Dromedaries are a domestic species with c¢.50 breeds selected and used for pulling carts, plowing, lifting water at wells, carrying packs, milk production, smooth riding, and racing. The breeds include those in Saudi Arabia (Mojaheem, Maghateer, Wadah, and Awarik), India (Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri, Kachchhi, and Mewari), Pakistan (Marecha, Dhatti, Larri, Kohi, Campbelpuri, and Sakrai), and Turkmenistan (Arvana). The evidence for domestication comes from archaeological sites dating ¢.4000-5000 years ago in the S Arabian Peninsula with the wild form becoming extinct ¢.2000-5000 years ago. No non-introduced wild populations exist. In Asia Dromedaries occur from Turkey to W India and N to Kazahkstan. All camels in Africa are Dromedaries, 80-85% in the Sahel and NE portion of the continent (Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya), with the S distribution limited by humidity and trypanosomiasis. Dromedaries in S Africa show no evidence of loss of genetic diversity within 16 populations and very low differentiation among populations. In Kenyan Dromedaries two separate genetic entities have been identified: the Somali and a group including the Gabbra, Rendille, and Turkana populations. In India two distinct genetic clusters have been described for Dromedaries: the Mewari breed being differentiated from the Bikaneri, Kutchi, and the Jaisalmeri breeds. From the 17" to the early 20" century unsuccessful attempts were made to introduce Dromedaries to the Caribbean, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Namibia, and south-western USA. Successful introductions of camels were made to the Canary Islands in 1405 and some 10,000 to Australia from 1840 to 1907. Camels were important for exploring and developing the Outback of C&W Australia, where they were used for riding; drafting; transporting supplies, railway, and telegraph materials; and as a source of meat and wool. Most (6600) introduced Dromedaries came from India. Three breeds were originally introduced: camels for riding from Rajasthan, India, camels for heavy work from the Kandahar region of Afghanistan, and camels for riding and carrying moderate cargo loads from Sind, Pakistan. The camels in Australia today are a blend of these original imports. By the 1920s, there were an estimated 20,000 domesticated camels in Australia, but by 1930, with the arrival of rail and motor transportation, camels were no longer needed and many were released to the wild. Well suited to the Australian deserts, the camels bred prolifically, spreading across arid and semi-arid areas of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, and into parts of Queensland, and today they occupy 37% of the continent.Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Camelidae, pp. 206-246 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 245, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.571971