A two-humped camel, Camelus bactrianus, native to the steppes of Central Asia and named for the ancient region of Bactria, distinguished from the single-humped dromedary by its double hump. It was domesticated around 2500 BCE and has served as a pack animal in inner Asia since ancient times, becoming a mainstay of transport on the Silk Road because of its ability to endure extreme cold, drought and high altitude. A domesticated Bactrian camel can carry 170 to 250 kilograms at a rate of about 47 kilometers a day, and the animals are also ridden, particularly in desert regions. Roughly two million domesticated Bactrian camels remain in use today across Central Asia, the Middle East, China and Mongolia.
Facts
Era
Era (category) Connections
Associated With
The Bactrian camel was domesticated separately in Central Asia, the second of the two camel domestication events this milestone covers.
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Bactrian Camel (Wikipedia)
History sectionQuote, History section
The Bactrian camel was domesticated circa 2500 BCE.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.