![shaka 46 gif1.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/en6lIPr9-shaka204620gif1.gif)

<center>![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/tqQ7JRiK-egyptian20border20gif.gif)</center>
Is it possible the camel in my collage had ancestors that lived within the Arctic Circle?  So it would seem. Beautiful, cold, Ellesemere Island may have been home to the first camels. Fossils--mere fragments from a large [tibia](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2013/03/05/the-giant-camels-of-the-prehistoric-high-arctic/)--offer clues to the camel's origins. Identification of these fragments was possible through examination of collagen found in bits of bone.  DNA from the collagen matched DNA from collagen in modern-day camels. 

***Fosheim Peninsula and Sawtooth Range on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada***
![Eureka_Sawtooth_Range_040897.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/ao51r9bb-Eureka_Sawtooth_Range_04-08-97.jpg)
*Picture credit: Ansgar Walk, [CC 3.0 license.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eureka_Sawtooth_Range_(04-08-97).jpg)*


The method of identifying fossils through collagen DNA is called [collagen fingerprinting,](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440318300724) and has been used to identify other fossils. 

Here's a *YouTube* video that describes the discovery on Ellesmere Island. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCMvHWQagbc

It is believed that when early camels lived on Ellesmere, the earth's climate was warmer. It is also estimated that the Arctic camel was about [30% larger](https://www.livescience.com/27639-camel-fossil-found-in-arctic.html) than today's camel.

![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/mE9wmI65-egyptian20border20gif.gif)

***Camels May Have Migrated Across the Bering Land Bridge***
![camel migration gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/D4jUPksx-camel20migration20gif.gif)
*Map credit: U. S. Government. [No copyright restrictions.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Operational_Navigation_Chart_C-8,_2nd_edition.jpg)*

The theory is that the camels came to Asia by crossing the [Bering land bridge](https://www.nps.gov/bela/learn/historyculture/the-bering-land-bridge-theory.htm) between [3 and 4 million years ago.](https://www.history.com/news/giant-ancient-camel-roamed-the-arctic)  

I used *Paint 3D* to make this GIF.  The alpaca had to serve because *Paint 3D* did not have a camel picture. However, the alpaca is in the camel family and also is believed to be a descendant of the Arctic camel.  The Alpaca's [ancestors](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-alpaca-has-no-humps-180953095/) went south into North and South America, instead of east into Asia. 
![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/M11Qd0Cv-egyptian20border20gif.gif)

***Flat Camel Feet***

One of the reasons a camel is sure-footed on snow, sand and rocky terrain is because it has large, flat feet. It also has two toes that spread apart when the animal stands. This results in a firmer stance.

**The Two-Toed Camel**
![camel feet spencerdavisdqGZoy03ocEunsplash.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/2UIP7BRl-camel20feet20spencer-davis-dqGZoy03ocE-unsplash.jpg)
*Picture Credit: [Spencer Davis](https://unsplash.com/photos/dqGZoy03ocE) on Unsplash. Copyright free*


![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/LrBeye2O-egyptian20border20gif.gif)
***Evolution of the Camel***

Three camel species evolved from the early Arctic ancestor that migrated into Asia: the dromedary, the Bactrian, and the Wild Bactrian.  Over the last 1000 years these species have physically adapted to different habitats. 

**The Dromedary**
![dromedary2 lonelyshrimp public.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/I61D1g5p-dromedary220lonelyshrimp20public.jpg)
*Picture credit: [lonelyshrimp.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IMG_2973_%E5%8D%95%E5%B3%B0%E9%A9%BC_(38263873691).jpg) Copyright free*

Dromedaries have one hump. They are suited to arid, hot climates.  They may be found today mostly in North Africa, on the Arabian peninsula and in Southwest Asia.  There also is a significant feral population of [dromedaries in Australia.](http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180410-the-strange-story-of-australias-wild-camel) These feral camels are descendants of those imported by settlers more than a hundred years ago. Many of the introduced camels were released into the wild, where they proliferated.  Today the population continues to grow at a rapid rate. 

**The Bactrian and Wild Bactrian**
![bactrian camels.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/uC6tRZED-bactrian20camels.jpg)
*Picture credit, Bactrian: [Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bactrian_Camel_(4986856725).jpg). CC 2.0 
Picture credit, Wild Bactrian: [John Hill](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wild_Bactrian_camel_on_road_east_of_Yarkand.jpg) CC 3.0*

The Bactrian and Wild Bactrian have two humps. These camels may be [found](http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/bactrian-camel/) in only a few areas--in northwest China and in the Gobi Desert of southwest Mongolia. The animals' physiques are designed for survival. They can drink vast amounts of water at one time.  The Wild Bactrian may even consume [salty, brackish water](https://www.wildcamels.com/bactrian-camels/) without ill effect. They easily live in cold climates, with rocky terrain. 

Wild Bactrian Camels are classified as [critically endangered](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/b/bactrian-camel/) by the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species).

![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/OB1aoY3U-egyptian20border20gif.gif)
**The Camel's Hump**

The camel's hump does not hold water.  It contains stored fat.  When times are hard and food is scarce, the camel draws nutrients from the hump.  After a period of scarcity, the hump may [shrink and droop.](https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/how-much-water-does-a-camels-hump-hold/)  In good times, when food is plentiful, the hump grows plump again. 
 
**Contrasting Well-Nourished and Poorly Nourished Camels**
![Camels3 in_the_Altai_Mountains_01 drooping hump Alexandr frolov 4.0.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/WEVXQQtK-Camels320in_the_Altai_Mountains_0120drooping20hump20Alexandr20frolov204.0.jpg)
*Picture Credit: [Alexandr Frolov](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camels_in_the_Altai_Mountains_01.jpg). CC 4.0*

These camels are grazing in the Altai Mountains, Mongolia. The animal in the foreground has severely drooping humps, probably due to illness. Its companions seem to be doing fine. 
![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/iqIvHRwl-egyptian20border20gif.gif)
**Crossbreeding**

I'll end on a racy note.  The three species of camel [mate successfully](http://www.macroevolution.net/bactrian-camel-dromedary-hybrids.html) with each other.  Often this crossbreeding [is instigated](http://www.macroevolution.net/bactrian-camel-dromedary-hybrids.html) by camel breeders.  The hybrid offspring are considered to be more tolerant of weather variations, more compliant, and hardier than their purebred peers.  The hybrids are fertile, but less so than their parents.
![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/qkbFb9oB-egyptian20border20gif.gif)
**A Parting Look From a Thoughtful Camel**

<center>![Camelface2 Henryhbk public.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/Tppglxbl-Camelface220Henryhbk20public.jpg)</center>
*Credit: [Henryhbk.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camelface.jpg) Public domain.*

![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/nNohSC3o-egyptian20border20gif.gif)
![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/WGlWxPD4-egyptian20border20gif.gif)




### <center>My Collage</center>
The template from which we worked in this #46th LMAC challenge  was provided by @borjan, one of the most spectacular photographers on Hive.

@Borjan's Photo
![borjan's photo2.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/FXnYQyza-borjans20photo2.jpg)



The first thing I noted in the photo was the suggestion (to me) of an eye.  This became the center around which I worked.  Apparently my friend @elcorrecamino also saw an eye, for he interpreted the same space brilliantly as an eye. His collage may be viewed [here.](https://hive.blog/hive-174695/@elcorrecamino/let-s-make-a-collage-unlucky-bear) 

I knew I wanted to make an Egyptian-themed collage, and very soon in the process decided the camel would be important. After that, and many false starts, the idea of an oasis evolved. Elements in the collage are all public domain:

[Eye: Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/de/vectors/%C3%A4gypten-abbildung-grafiken-vektor-2150011/)
[Bedouin on a camel: Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/de/vectors/beduinen-w%C3%BCste-kamel-hei%C3%9F-trocken-307056/)
[Egyptian profile on top of the building and figure descending the stairs: Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/Z5glwhD3LH8)
[Watering hole:Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/p4gSbebmxeY)
[Dune: Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/oFWH6W7NE8E)
[The design for the border GIF was extracted from the Unsplash source, previously cited](https://unsplash.com/photos/Z5glwhD3LH8)

The shrubs and fountain in the foreground, and the rock border on top of the dune came from *Paint 3D*. I put everything together by juggling mostly between *Paint* and *Paint 3D*

Here's a picture of one of the earliest stages, when I was playing around and trying to figure out how I was going to develop the collage:

![shaka 46 stairs sphinx eye6.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/hJLNZZly-shaka204620stairs20sphinx20eye6.jpg)

Eventually I placed the camel on scene: 
![shaka 46 bedouin eye head3.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/qZP3Toz3-shaka204620bedouin20eye20head3.jpg)




The scheme in my head was clear at this point. Getting there wasn't exactly easy :)

![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/cGcEHBX2-egyptian20border20gif.gif)

It's obvious I put a lot of time into this blog.  A great experience, a wonderful, creative exercise.  Food for the brain and the spirit.  Thank you @shaka for nurturing a community of enthusiastic creators.  Some of us are rank amateurs (me) but you open the door to everyone.

The collages in this week's round of entries may be found on @shaka's blog: [Take a look.](https://hive.blog/hive-174695/@shaka/let-s-make-a-collage-a-contest-for-all-creatives-on-hive-round-46-dynamic-prize-pool-with-50-hive)  They are wonderful!
<center>![lmac graphic2.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/l0BY3Tvk-lmac20graphic2.jpg)</center>
![egyptian border gif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/OPNGfdgT-egyptian20border20gif.gif)


<center>*Thank you for reading my blog*
![fox and squirrel friendsgif.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/agmoore/R5ShNDUJ-fox20and20squirrel20friendsgif.gif)
*Hive on!*</center>