Camels can survive losing 25% of their body weight in water—a feat that would be fatal to most other mammals.

Camels possess remarkable physiological adaptations that allow them to survive in the harshest desert environments on Earth. While most mammals have circular red blood cells, camels have oval-shaped erythrocytes. This unique shape allows the cells to continue flowing through narrow capillaries even when blood becomes viscous due to severe dehydration.Research has shown that camels can lose up to 25–30% of their body weight in water without suffering heart failure. For comparison, a human losing 12–15% of their body water would likely face fatal circulatory collapse. The camel's blood volume remains relatively stable because water loss comes primarily from the interstitial fluid and intracellular compartments rather than the bloodstream itself.When a camel reaches a water source, it can drink up to 100 liters in just 10 minutes. Their red blood cells are remarkably osmotic, meaning they can swell to 240% of their initial volume without rupturing. Most other animals would suffer osmotic shock and cell lysis under such conditions.Camels also have specialized kidneys and intestines that are highly efficient at reabsorbing water. Their urine becomes as thick as syrup, and their feces are so dry they can be used as fuel for fires immediately. These combined adaptations were first documented in detail by physiologist Knut Schmidt-Nielsen in the 1950s, fundamentally changing our understanding of desert survival mechanisms.