Name: The camel's hump
Uploaded: 2008-09-15T01:00:00Z
Duration: 15 min 52 s
Description: Keith Bellows gleefully outlines the engineering marvels of the camel, a vital creature he calls "the SUV of the desert." Though he couldn't bring a live camel to TED, he gets his camera crew as close as humanly possible to a one-ton beast in full rut.

Keith Bellows gleefully outlines the engineering marvels of the camel, a vital creature he calls "the SUV of the desert." Though he couldn't bring a live camel to TED, he gets his camera crew as close as humanly possible to a one-ton beast in full rut.

The camel's hump

The camel stands out as one of the most perfectly adapted creatures on Earth, thriving where few others survive. During a grueling desert trek with a single water bottle, the camel’s resilience and eccentric defenses became unforgettable. Features like its fat-storing hump, sandproof lashes, and ability to lose 40% of its body weight make it essential for desert dwellers. Unlike humans, camels must continually adapt to their harsh environment to survive.