WHAT’S ON A DESERT MENU?
When food is limited, animals can’t afford to be fussy eaters. Camels are herbivores and rely on desert shrubs, grasses and twigs. Their mouths are tough and able to withstand thorns, but their lips remain flexible enough to grab and break off food.
Their stomachs have three or four chambers, which can prolong digestion to thoroughly break down tougher meals. The increased surface area of the stomach means moisture in the plants they eat can be better absorbed before leaving the body. Eating plumps up camels’ humps, and after a long time without food they will shrink.