Cama

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)

A Cama is a hybrid between a camel and a llama, produced via artificial insemination at Camel Reproduction Centre in Dubai. The aim was to create an animal with the size and strength of the camel, but the more cooperative temperament of the llama.^[1]

The Dromedary camel is six times the weight of a Llama, hence artificial insemination was required to impregnate the Llama female (matings of llama male to Dromedary female have proven unsuccessful). Though born even smaller than a Llama calf, the Cama had the short ears and long tail of a camel, no hump and llama-like two toed pads rather than the dromedary-like pads. All six camelids are pedopods, having two padded toes instead of hooves.

At four years old, the Cama became sexually mature and interested in llama and guanaco females. This first Cama has been a disappointment behaviorally, displaying an extremely poor temperament. A second Cama (female) has since been produced using artificial insemination.

Despite approximately 2-3 million years of evolutionary separation, both Old World and New World camelids have by chance maintained the same number of chromosomes, seventy-four, making this extraordinary cross-breeding between not only distinct species, but distinct genera, much easier and more likely to produce fertile offspring.

References

1. ^ Duncan Campbell (2002-07-15). "Bad karma for cross llama without a hump". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/jul/15/highereducation.science. Retrieved 2009-03-02.  mirror

This article about an even-toed ungulate is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e