Principal Anatomy Particularities in Dromedary Compared to Ox: Digestive and Respiratory Systems †
1
Gestion Santé et Productions Animales Research Laboratory, Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires El-Khroub, Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, Constantine 25000, Algeria
2
Unité Anatomie Comparée, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de l’Alimentation et de l’Agroalimentaire, 44300 Nantes, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the 10th International Seminar of Veterinary Medicine: Camelids in Algeria & Maghreb, Constantine, Algeria, 20–21 December 2022.
Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2023, 22(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2023022013
Published: 6 April 2023
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 10th International Seminar of Veterinary Medicine: Camelids in Algeria & Maghreb)
Abstract
The dromedary, also called the one-humped camel, can live and adapt well to the harsh and hot climate of the desert due to its functional anatomical particularities. Both the dromedary and the ox are known as artiodactyls. Anatomically, they have a few similarities but many differences. This paper aims to review the digestive and respiratory anatomy of the two species and enumerate their main particularities. The camel’s mouth is thick and unique; it helps them to be selective with regard to food and to avoid any thorny plants. The nostrils of the dromedary are slit-like, with wings that can close to ensure protection against the wind and the sand; they also have a role in the conservation of water. Contrary to the ox, the dromedary’s lungs are not lobulated, and the diaphragm has a unique structure. Unlike the bovids, camelids have only three distinct digestive chambers instead of four; there is no clear distinction between the third and fourth chambers. In addition, they have glandular sac areas called “water cells” instead of papillae in the rumen. Their liver is lobulated, and without a gall bladder.
1. Introduction
Camelidae includes six species: the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus; two humps), the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius; one hump), lamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas [1]. The dromedary is an animal that is frequently cited as an example of adaptation and resistance to harsh environmental conditions. This is due in part to its anatomy, particularly its digestive and respiratory systems, which are distinct from those of other domestic ruminants. The dromedary and the ox both belong to the order of the artiodactyls, the first to the Tylopoda sub-order and the second to the Ruminantia sub-order [2]. They share several anatomical characteristics (extern and intern anatomy). However, there are some anatomical features specific only to camels. Due to these anatomical particularities, the camel is able to survive in the hot and dry conditions of the desert. The purpose of this paper is to document the main anatomical particularities between these two large ruminants’ digestive and respiratory systems.
2. Material and Methods
3. Results and Discussion
4. Conclusions
The digestive and respiratory systems of the dromedary have some anatomical particularities that allow him to survive in the desert, where food and water are infrequent and the environment is hot and windy [6]. These distinctions aid in our understanding of the camel’s way of life and physiological properties.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, M.B. and R.R.; methodology, M.B.; software, M.B.; validation, R.R., F.T.-Z. and C.G.; formal analysis, M.B.; investigation, M.B.; resources, M.B.; data curation, M.B.; writing—original draft preparation, M.B.; writing—review and editing, M.B., F.T.-Z. and C.G.; visualization, C.G.; supervision, F.T.-Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Amira Leila DIB for her invaluable guidance, and Nedjoua LAKHDARA for her assistance with the translation.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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| Dromedary | Ox | |
|---|---|---|
| Mouth | Split upper lip and pendulous lower lip | Upper lip larger than the lower |
| Dental formula | I1/3 C1/1 PM3/2 M3/3 | I0/4 C0/0 PM3/3 M3/3 |
| Soft palate | Extensible and extruded | Not extruded |
| Salivary glands | Absence of monostomatic sublingual gland | Presence of monostomatic sublingual gland |
| Esophagus | Enters directly into the rumen | It joints the stomach between the rumen and reticulum |
| Stomach | 3 distinct chambers Presence of glandular sac | 4 distinct digestive chambers Absence of the glandular sac |
| Small intestines | 40 m in length, large jejunum | 40 m in length, jejuno-ileum |
| Large intestines | Extremely long (20 m) Blind caecum attached Helical colon | 10 m in length, Blind caecum free S-shaped colon with loops |
| Accessory glands | Liver: lobulated Gall bladder: absent Spleen: not attached to the diaphragm | Liver: not lobulated Gall bladder: Present Spleen: attached to the diaphragm |
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MDPI and ACS Style
Boukerrou, M.; Ridouh, R.; Tekkouk-Zemmouchi, F.; Guintard, C. Principal Anatomy Particularities in Dromedary Compared to Ox: Digestive and Respiratory Systems. Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2023, 22, 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2023022013
AMA Style
Boukerrou M, Ridouh R, Tekkouk-Zemmouchi F, Guintard C. Principal Anatomy Particularities in Dromedary Compared to Ox: Digestive and Respiratory Systems. Biology and Life Sciences Forum. 2023; 22(1):13. https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2023022013
Chicago/Turabian StyleBoukerrou, Maya, Rania Ridouh, Faiza Tekkouk-Zemmouchi, and Claude Guintard. 2023. "Principal Anatomy Particularities in Dromedary Compared to Ox: Digestive and Respiratory Systems" Biology and Life Sciences Forum 22, no. 1: 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2023022013
APA StyleBoukerrou, M., Ridouh, R., Tekkouk-Zemmouchi, F., & Guintard, C. (2023). Principal Anatomy Particularities in Dromedary Compared to Ox: Digestive and Respiratory Systems. Biology and Life Sciences Forum, 22(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2023022013
