What Does a Camel's Hump Actually Store?

Fat. A camel's hump stores fatty tissue, not water. When food and water are scarce, the body breaks this fat down to release energy and metabolic water, which is why camels survive so long in the desert.

No. This is one of the most common animal myths. The hump is a reserve of fat. Camels stay hydrated through their blood and by drinking huge amounts at once, not from water stored in the hump.

The hump acts as an energy bank. By concentrating fat in one place instead of all over the body, a camel can release heat more easily and live off the stored fat during long journeys without food.