# Can Bactrian and Dromedary camels interbreed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760 "2005-01-14T20:11:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/1 "2005-01-14T20:11:23Z")
What does the hybrid look like? And, which species yields the wool (used for camel hair coats)? ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/2 "2005-01-14T20:37:50Z")
Yes, they can interbreed. From [here](http://members.aol.com/jshartwell/hybrid-mammals.html): > [@](#): > > Bactrian camel have 2 humps and are rugged cold-climate camels while Dromedaries have one hump and are desert dwellers. Bactrian/Dromedary hybrids are called Bukhts, are larger than either parent, have a single hump and are good draft camels. The females can be mated back to a Bactrian to produce three-quarter bred riding camels. These hybrids are found in Kazakhstan. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/3 "2005-01-14T20:38:13Z")
“_Bactrian camel have 2 humps and are rugged cold-climate camels while Dromedaries have one hump and are desert dwellers. Bactrian/Dromedary hybrids are called Bukhts, are larger than either parent, have a single hump and are good draft camels. The females can be mated back to a Bactrian to produce three-quarter bred riding camels. These hybrids are found in Kazakhstan._” Also see: [http://camelphotos.com/camel\_breeds.html](http://camelphotos.com/camel_breeds.html) - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/4 "2005-01-14T20:39:18Z")
Curse you **DF**! 😃 - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/5 "2005-01-14T20:47:24Z")
😃 The photo site was cool, though! ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/6 "2005-01-14T21:16:20Z")
Wow, kudos on that photo site, Tamerlane. On a related note, a few years ago a hybrid llama/dromedary was born at a racing stable in Dubai. It was in the news for a brief bit, but I’ve never been able to find anything more about it, despite repeated google attempts. Can anybody dig up a recent news story about the critter? ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/7 "2005-01-14T21:22:23Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > …which species yields the wool (used for camel hair coats)? Not wool, according to [this site](http://www.cashmere.org/english/facts.htm) which states, in part: > [@](#): > > Source: The two-humped Bactrian camel. > From the fine, soft undercoat or underlayer of hair. The straighter and coarser outer coat is called guard hair. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/8 "2005-01-14T22:48:18Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > On a related note, a few years ago a hybrid llama/dromedary was born at a racing stable in Dubai. It was in the news for a brief bit, but I’ve never been able to find anything more about it, despite repeated google attempts. Can anybody dig up a recent news story about the critter? Are you referring to [Rama the Cama](http://www.datadubai.com/cama1.htm)? That site is from 1999, so it doesn’t necessarily qualify as “recent”. But [here’s a 2002 article about Rama](http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/14/1026185141216.html?oneclick=true). ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/9 "2005-01-14T23:44:58Z")
Yep, that’s it. But with the name of the second hybrid Kamilah I was able to get several more hits from Google. Here’s some pictures: [http://taylorllamas.com/Camel-LamaCrossPhotos.html](http://taylorllamas.com/Camel-LamaCrossPhotos.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/10 "2005-01-15T01:23:16Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Yep, that’s it. But with the name of the second hybrid Kamilah I was able to get several more hits from Google. Here’s some pictures: > > [Camel-Lama Cross Photos](http://taylorllamas.com/Camel-LamaCrossPhotos.html) On the list of jobs that suck worse than mine, I have to say that [jerking off a camel](http://taylorllamas.com/DubaiSemenCollect.jpg) ranks near the top. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/11 "2005-01-15T03:55:51Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > On the list of jobs that suck worse than mine, I have to say that [jerking off a camel](http://taylorllamas.com/DubaiSemenCollect.jpg) ranks near the top. I think the foaming at the mouth makes the experience just that much more romantic. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/12 "2005-01-15T04:49:11Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > On the list of jobs that suck worse than mine, I have to say that [jerking off a camel](http://taylorllamas.com/DubaiSemenCollect.jpg) ranks near the top. I’d wank a mile for a camel. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/13 "2005-01-15T08:03:48Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I’d wank a mile for a camel. Ha! 😃 And hear I was expecting humping jokes… ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/14 "2005-01-15T08:04:54Z")
h-e-r-e, here I am a native speaker of English. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/15 "2005-01-15T23:57:57Z")
What was the point of the camel/llama cross? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/16 "2005-01-16T00:02:16Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > What was the point of the camel/llama cross? Probably to give **astro** a job. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/17 "2005-01-16T00:06:58Z")
IIRC Camel’s hair coats are made from sheep’s wool. The camel in the name refers to the color, kind of a caramel-ly fawn. Slightly analagous to sable artist’s brushes being made not from sable fur, but from squirrel fur. ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/18 "2005-01-16T03:21:49Z")
[QUOTE=quiltguy15Camel’s hair coats are made from sheep’s wool.[/QUOTE] The [Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute](http://www.cashmere.org/english/facts.htm) begs to differ. ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/19 "2005-01-16T03:23:50Z")
Once again, this time correctly: > [@quiltguy154](#): > > Camel’s hair coats are made from sheep’s wool. The [Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute](http://www.cashmere.org/english/facts.htm) begs to differ. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760/20 "2005-01-16T15:20:19Z")
> [@SavageNarce](#): > > Once again, this time correctly: > The [Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute](http://www.cashmere.org/english/facts.htm) begs to differ. Thank you, **SavageNarce** , I sit corrected. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-bactrian-and-dromedary-camels-interbreed/284760.md?page=2)