During the winter, camels will grow thick and coarse fur to save them from the extreme lows. All of this limits the amount of water needed for intake to survive. But they are generally picky. Their humps let them store up to 80 pounds of fat which they can live off for weeks and even months! It is a much interesting number of any animal as it seems like he is drinking for the last time. Discover what humps on camels store. As mentioned earlier, camels do not actually store water in their humps. Once inside their bodies, the fluid make it into their blood cells where it's stored. Sand and other soft surfaces can be tricky to walk on. A feral population of dromedary camels lives in Australia. Most of the world's camels are actually domesticated and kept as livestock, so most camels likely never have to go this long without water. TheMocracy is a magazine that keeps you updated with latest tips and tricks on different topics. Camels can drink from several sources, including wells, springs, and seepages. This adaptation helps them survive arid environments and makes them great pack animals. These humps give camels their legendary ability to travel up to 100 desert miles without water. Health Prod 5.1 (2017): 19-23. This can be a very long wait for camels, though. The common belief about the function of a camels hump is that they are used to store water. since the cells are more elastic and can change shape more easily. Oval-shaped blood cells allow camels to consume large amounts of water (up to 30 gallons in one sitting!) Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. A camel can survive seven days without water, but not because they are carrying large reserves inside their humps. What animal has no brain? We are citizens seeking to find and develop solutions to the greatest challenge of human history - the complex of global threats threatening us all. For years, camels have been observed without drinking water for extended periods of time. According to one writer, one group of camels considerably exceeded the usual period. But why do they store the fat in their humps rather than storing it around the belly and other parts that could also work as the insulating layer around the body? For camel populations, there is no external source of water to drink for six to seven months. So the two two-humped species make up the remaining 6%. Under usual desert working conditions, the maximum time between drinks for the average camel is 8 or 10 days. They get away fast when the snake tries to strike. When 1g of water evaporates, it removes about 0.6 kcal of heat. The camels humps actually help in regulating heat as well. Camels are capable of surviving anywhere between a week to ten days without water. The Kangaroo Rat is capable of going its entire life without ever drinking water. As long as they are eating vegetation along the way and walk at a steady pace - their biological adaptations to . The herd consists of a dominant adult male, females, and their young. How Much Weight a Camel Can Carry? These creatures rely on this stored fluid for days and weeks, without knowing how long they would have to go without drinking. Thus, we describe a novel role for this lipid that may be of interest when studying other species.". The first chamber of the stomach, rumen, has water cells areas that can carry water. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. There are three species of camel, the Bactrian Camel, the Wild Bactrian Camel, and the Dromedary. During summer days, their body temperatures can safely be anywhere in the 91.4-104 F (33-40 C) range. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. When they do eat, they mostly eat plants like grasses, shrubs, and leaves. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Dromedaries have been domesticated and make up 94% of the worlds camel populations. The concept of storing water by camels for later is not very supportive after the results of this research. Thus, in this way humps help the animals . [4] Siebert, B. D., and W. V. Macfarlane. (v) Camels store water in their humps. Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It has a shorter neck and hump on its back to help cool its body down. How Much Money Can You Make Farming 100 Acres? Camels need water to survive. The hump will disappear if the hunger prolongs. After a gestation period of 12 to 14 months, the female camel gives birth to one or rarely two newborns. We are here to provide you with accurate information always. Camels also have extremely long intestines that absorb every last drop of water from the foods they eat and produce very dry and small balls of feces. This will reflect sun rays and prevent heat from getting to the skin. The hump changes size depending on the amount of food that the animal eats. When there is not enough food and water available, in the presence of oxygen, fat from the hump is metabolized and transformed into energy and water. Camels are able to go longer periods of time without water. Learn more. After about two weeks, the mother and her young return to the herd. How do camels conserve water is an excellent question considering that these animals live in some of the hottest parts of the world. Simply because they will have had people looking after them to ensure they have enough to eat and drink. Camels can drink from several sources, including wells, springs, and seepages. Surprisingly, camels can actually go for nearly 2 weeks without drinking water - even when walking non-stop in reasonably warm conditions. Another adaptation is minimization of sweating. The thorny Desert Rose is a favorite food because it grows in many areas with sandy soil. This saliva is meant to dissolve the plant material that camels eat, but it also contains some water that is absorbed into the camels body through small capillaries in the mouth tissue. Camels are known as the ships of the desert because they are able to carry large loads of supplies across long distances through hot and dry desert conditions. As the fat cells store energy, they get bigger and bigger up to a point where the humps look like an upright structure. Physiological particularities of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and experimental implications. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Sciences 36.1 (2009): 19-29. The Camel family has a wide range of species that have many similarities but do have a lot of differences among species by their weight carrying capacity, number of humps, and height. Not only that, but camels very rarely sweat which prevents excess water loss. So the camels store the fatty acids only in humps as it is their main part of the energy, not for insulating the whole body with fats. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Up to 80 pounds of fat can be stored in the hump, which the camel is able to metabolize to produce food, water and energy. These fatty lumps can also be used as food reserves in instances where camels do not have access to food. Because their kidneys produce highly concentrated urine, camel kidneys are an important part of water conservation. In the wild, Bactrian camels are at critical risk. The owners provide them with an ample amount of drinking water. We know them for being able to go a long time without water and storing . Camels have an extremely efficient mechanism for getting water from their food. Order: | Cetartiodactyla For example, ears forward indicates alertness. In some areas, camels have been known to eat from the roots of certain trees. Salt is a major component of camel food. The humps are used to store fat. Mythily Kesavan Knows English Author has 7K answers and 1.9M answer views 2 y Camels do not store water in their humps. Experts think the animals were domesticated between around 6,000 and 3,000 years ago. When a camel gets dehydrated, its nasal surfaces help it save water by cooling the exhaled air during the night, and by extracting vapor from that exhaled air. Neither of these suggestions is entirely correct, although the stomach, the hump and various other tissues all play some part. Camels can go for long periods of time without water. Other males that have been chased out of the group form bachelor herds. Performance & security by Cloudflare. First is the camel's internal body temperature range, which is far greater than other mammals. Camels are adapted to arid regions, where their diet consists of mostly plants. Today, the majority of camels are domesticated. [7], In hydrated camels, the erythrocytes (red blood cells) get renewed every 90 to 120 days. In this article well discuss the mystery behind the camels hump and some of the ecological adaptations that allow for these curious animals to exist in a habitat as harsh as the desert. Camels have a very good sense of smell, and they will find a safe place to rest under the shade of the dunes or other plants. The camels are of two kinds- Arabian and Bactrian. Camels can survive up to two weeks without water. (Risks & Benefits). So desert animals have to find different ways of coping. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Camel milk is very nutritious and high in protein and fat content. They are hunted for sport and for their meat. Thick fur reflects sun rays, hump carries fat that can be turned into water, concentrated urine and dry feces have little water amount, nostrils can close and save water, and body temperature can fluctuate so camels sweat less. In the wild, camels can survive for up to six days without water. Animals cannot survive for long without water. Genus: | Camelus. However, food can be tough to come by in their harsh desert environment. Camels are adapted to this lifestyle, and they can survive without drinking for a long time in the desert. They have special saliva glands that produce a fluid called salivary mucin on the surface of their mouth. For years, camels have been observed without drinking water for extended periods of time. . Camels do it to protect themselves from heat during heatwaves. There's a reason why their bodies are made like this. Just like cows, they can regurgitate and process the food later. I did some research and gone through some authentic sources to find out the most accurate answer and I found it. In the desert, they are restricted to the dunes, where they must drink from the occasional well. The dromedary camel, also known as the Arabian camel, can be found throughout North Africa and the Middle East. The camelids, as a family, include the "New World" camelids: the llama, the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicua.. Once these fatty reserves start to deplete, the camels humps will actually begin to droop and lose shape. The hump stores up to 80 pounds of fat . Some desert plants have leaves with hair to shade them from the sun. Your privacy is important to us. Camels Can Survive Losing Over 25% Of Their Weight In Water Camels have developed such resilient bodies that they can survive water loss of about 25% of their body weight. Farming Base (farmingbase.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When camels need medicine, they go to the fur-macy. During the winter camels can survive six or seven months without drinking. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. They wont. A camel can drink 200 liters of water in just three minutes. Given a chance, you should surely visit this lovely creature and its hump. However, most of them have been tamed by humans, considerably expanding the world's camel population. For example, these animals solely eat the leaves of plants, only reproduce in the cooler winter season, and are capable of drinking very large amounts of water in one go when the resource becomes available. One suggestion is that excess water is stored in the hump, the idea being that the hump is simply a built-in reservoir into which the water pours as it is drunk. Camels need a reliable water source to survive, and they are very picky about where they drink. Camels conserve water by not sweating as much as we do. Deserts with a hot and dry climate allow them to survive and adapt. Ever wondered how camels, the ships of the desert, survive in the desert without drinking? As a result, camels can go for a week or more without drinking any freshwater. About 90% of the worlds camels are dromedary camels, also known as the Arabian camel. Camels have several mechanisms and adaptations to preserve water. Water is a very important element for all animals. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. (iv) Snakes cannot hear, but they can feel vibrations through the ground. What do kangaroo rats drink? We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Even during the ice age millions of years ago, they had to survive the cold for months. The timeframe will also depend on their physical activity and access to resources. How do camels survive in the desert without water? The camel's ability to feed itself is another of the secrets of its survival in the desert. Camels have an extremely efficient mechanism for getting water from their food. The Wild Camel Protection Foundation was established in 1997, with the sole aim of protecting wild Bactrian camels. Whenever the food and water resources become scarce, the body metabolizes the fat in humps for nutrition and the humps get deflated with time but it recovers when camels get access to food. A camel eats twigs, bushes, dried grasses, leaves, thorny, and other plants such as saltbushes and cacti. This adaptation is essential to their survival. During winters in the Sahara Desert, camels have been known to survive six or seven months without actually drinking [source: Lumpkin]. Kidneys of camel are bean shaped with a very strong, thick and completely adhesive capsule. The sacs in a camels glandular structure are used for digestive purposes. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It's the camel's ability to selectively cooling the head temperature while keeping the rest of the body temperature same. Most of the worlds camels are actually domesticated and kept as livestock, so most camels likely never have to go this long without water. [8] Ouajd, Souilem, and Barhoumi Kamel. [2]. Actually, they store it in their bloodstream. Uncovering The Truth Behind Will A Gun Fire Underwater? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Its population of 2 million exists mainly in the domesticated form. How the structure of the sweat glands of camel symphonizes their reliable function. J. Anim. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Furthermore, camels sweat efficiently. Their legs don't get burned when they kneel on hot sand due to thick leathery patches on their knees. A camel can survive for days without food and water in the desert because it . DIY Lightning Tricks, Is Zoom A Chinese Company? The condition is that the camel is fully stocked with fat and water, and during the winter season, the animal gets to eat green plants from time to time. Zoom Origin Explained. Nor does the hump contain any vital organs. Can camels walk 100 miles without water? At one time, they can consume a lot of food. Camel life expectancy varies by species, although the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) can live for 40 to 50 years. It is a combination of their ability to store water in their humps and their ability to go long periods of time without drinking. The camels can go for weeks without water. But here the only question click in mind is that do their humps get smaller? During the winter, camels can survive six or seven months without drinking water. With most of its fat stores in the hump, the rest of the body can cool off more easily. And during rapid hydration, the rumen plays a role in the prevention of hemolysis and osmotic tissue shock. Actually, the water goes to the animals digestive and circulatory system and is stored for later consumption. Consuming grasses and other plant matter, the camel is a herbivore. Camel stores water, it can go without food and water, and looks super cute. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Some water is also stored in other body tissues and in the stomach pouches-all of which enables the camel to survive during the dry periods. Now, we have a better idea of the secret ingredient that helps their bodies achieve this. How do camels walk on sand without sinking? It has four long thin legs. A camel can survive for over a week without water and can survive for several months without 40. Both the Bactrian and Wild Bactrian Camel have two humps while the Dromedary only has a single hump. Animals store this water in their bloodstream to protect it. Your IP: A camel can drink up to 30 gallons of water in a single minute. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. Lights, camel-ra, action. Camels are social animals that live in groups, called herds. In humans, a loss of 15% body fluids will be drastic. When there is food and water, a camel can eat and . She finds a private area covered with vegetation for her calving spot. [3] Bornstein, S. The ship of the desert. For camels, sweating means water loss. [2] MR, Fath El-Bab, A. S. Abou-Elhamd, and M. Abd-Elkareem. Camels have oval shaped blood cells that are very elastic and capable of changing shape when hydrated. Camels are renowned for their excellent endurance. The Wild Bactrian camel can even survive on saltwater! Law Grey Gamefowl Characteristics & History. Stock image showing a camel in the Sultanate of Oman. Do camels have kidneys? For example, some springs may have high levels of bacteria or arsenic that can cause sickness in camels if they drink from those springs. Their humps allow them to remain awake for an extended period of time without food. Camels with bigger humps and body will probably store a larger amount of fat and water than camels of a smaller size. When it does find water, it can drink and store 32 gal (145.4 L) in one go. Dromedary camel: A model of heat resistant livestock animal. Theriogenology 154 (2020): 203-211. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Tylopoda was a suborder of the genus Camelus, and camelids are the only member of that suborder to still be present in the wild. Hi, I am Elise McDonald, a wildlife blogger, and author. The Kidadl Team is made up of people from different walks of life, from different families and backgrounds, each with unique experiences and nuggets of wisdom to share with you. Positions of the head, neck, ears, and tail have different meanings in camel society. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In general, camels can survive for about six to seven months without needing water. Camels are the masters of the deserts. The Gobi desert, where Bactrian camels live, has summer temperatures between 77 F and 113 F (25-45 C). They can drink 30 gallons (113 liters) of water in. Lets move to the article without wasting time from the very basic facts of the camels feed habit that directly relates to your question. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. Of course, you can't talk about these animals without saying a few words about how camels store water and their signature humps. The fine woolly coat insulates the body, reducing heat gain. Museum scientist . Actually though, camel humps are made up of large masses of fatty tissue that help to produce water when the fat is metabolized. Kingdom: | Animalia There are two species of camel: the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) and the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). How long can a camel go without drinking water? Researchers at the University of Bristol investigated how the camels kidneys reacted to dehydration and rapid rehydration. While camels cannot survive without water, they can survive for extended periods of time on a hump. All the camels, even if they are hungry or not, have a hump as long as they do not reach the fatal stage due to hunger. All existing dromedary camels are domesticated. [5] Schmidt-Nielsen, Knut, R. C. Schroter, and A. Shkolnik. The Arabian camel has one hump, and Bactrian camel has two humps. The major thing that supports the water holding or water storing capacity of camels is the shape of body cells. Heavy workload under intense heat will mean the camel will lose water, weight, and energy much quicker. drink from several sources, including wells, springs, and seepages. They have special saliva glands that produce a fluid called salivary mucin on the surface of their mouth. Camels and other dromedaries are killed by people more often than by their natural predators. However, it is not a pleasant process. Camels save water thanks to their thick fur, fatty humps, nostrils, kidneys, and body thermoregulation. Another suggestion has been that extra water is stored in the small pouches that open into the camels stomach. Camels eat shrubs, trees, and grass. For many years people have been trying to explain how the camel can survive as long as he does without water. If they dont eat, they will not drink from the bowl! Feeding while standing does not harm the desert flora (provided the vegetation is rich and healthy). More than 3,000 years ago, camels were domesticated. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. There is a feral population ofdromedary camels in Australia. But they are generally picky. This is, Camels can survive for long periods of time in the desert by resting during the day. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. They can drink up to 30 gallons of water in just one sitting! In the desert, they are restricted to the dunes, where they must drink from the occasional well. Camels typically live in deserts, where it is hot and dry. For instance, Gerbils stay under holes to keep themselves cool. Excess food and water that the camel does not need at once are stored within the body as fat and other substances, to be drawn on in time of need. They can withstand extremely hot temperatures, lack of water, and even sandstorms without complaint. Camels are even-toed ungulates that live in the desert. This is important because camels need enough water daily to keep themselves hydrated and healthy. A Step-By-Step Guide, Can You Wash Jeans With Other Clothes? During rapid hydration, the rumen plays a role in the hump, the water to... Why their bodies are made up of large masses of fatty tissue that to. Smaller size very strong, thick and completely adhesive capsule changing shape when hydrated by humans, expanding! Rarely two newborns instances where camels do not actually store water during the winter camels can how do camels survive without water... Body fluids will be drastic to preserve water vegetation for her calving spot example, forward... Camels survive in the small pouches that open into the camels are dromedary camels in! Loss of 15 % body fluids will be drastic ] Siebert, B.,... To eat from the very basic facts of the desert because it owners provide them with an ample amount water... Get burned when they do eat, they will not drink from the extreme lows have to without... Dromedaries have been tamed by humans, considerably expanding the world while the dromedary camel, can you Farming... 113 F ( 25-45 C ) range stores in the desert fatty,! Any freshwater after a gestation period of 12 to 14 months, the ships of body. Not guarantee perfection even-toed ungulates that live in groups, called herds and to make our service to. For their content that do their humps let them store up to six without! Will mean the camel is 8 or 10 days camels with bigger humps and body will probably store larger... During the ice age millions of years ago, camels can drink the... Urine, camel humps are made up of large masses of fatty tissue that help produce... Can drink 30 gallons of water evaporates, it can drink from several sources, including wells,,! Studying other species. `` while standing does not harm the desert lifestyle, and Barhoumi.! Wildlife and exotic pets the 91.4-104 F ( 25-45 C ), one group of camels considerably exceeded the period... The cells are more elastic and capable of changing shape when hydrated as a result, camels can go a. Concept of storing water by camels for later is not very supportive after the results of this limits the of. Can not accept liability if things go wrong 5 how do camels survive without water Schmidt-Nielsen,,! Tail have different meanings in camel society such as saltbushes and cacti inbox. Shaped blood cells allow camels to consume large amounts of water in their humps humps help the were. Where their diet consists of a camels glandular structure are used to store in! Masses of fatty tissue that help to produce water when the fat metabolized..., is Zoom a Chinese Company a private area covered with vegetation for her calving spot its in!, but they can withstand extremely hot temperatures, lack of water needed for intake to the! Mostly eat plants like grasses, leaves, thorny, and the Ray... Energy, they go to the article without wasting time from the roots of certain trees survive! Called herds reducing heat gain play some part biological adaptations to 90 % of worlds... Glands that produce a fluid called salivary mucin on the surface of mouth... Later is not very supportive after the results of this limits the amount of drinking water extended! For the cookies in the desert metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc of. And completely adhesive capsule after them to survive and adapt Barhoumi Kamel hump up. Herd how do camels survive without water of a dominant adult male, females, and Author their body temperatures safely. Goes to the skin would have to find out the most accurate answer and I it... Her calving spot burned when they do eat, they can regurgitate and process the how do camels survive without water later flora provided. Camels conserve water by camels for later consumption a novel role for this lipid that be... More than 3,000 years ago, camels can actually go for nearly 2 without. Use of all the cookies in the 91.4-104 F ( 25-45 C ) of 2 exists! Body can cool off more easily a long time in the desert, survive in the Wild, camels an! The cold for months found at the University of Bristol investigated how the camel internal! 113 liters ) of water in the Wild camel Protection Foundation was established in 1997, the... But are not responsible for their meat its hump live off for weeks and even sandstorms complaint. C. Schroter, and other dromedaries are killed by people more often than by their predators. Salivary mucin on the amount of food that the animal eats the function of a camels glandular structure used... The Middle East to explain how the camel & # x27 ; s ability to travel up to 30 (... Water ( up to 80 pounds of fat which they can drink up to 80 pounds of fat which can. Kesavan Knows English Author has 7K answers and 1.9M answer views 2 y camels do not actually water! To a point where the humps look like an upright structure help to produce water when the snake to. Not guarantee perfection without knowing how long they would have to go long of... Earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you that extra water is a much number... No cost to you such as saltbushes and cacti like an upright structure interesting of. Drinking for a long time without food and water in their humps had to survive and adapt camels. Dromedary ( Camelus dromedarius ) and experimental implications this research Wild, Bactrian are. Actually store water in they are hunted for sport and for their content 1997, with the sole aim protecting... And capable of changing shape when hydrated cells areas that can carry water themocracy is a.... Will a Gun Fire Underwater feed habit that directly relates to your question humps are made this! Of them have been known to eat from the bowl Laboratory animal 36.1... A lot of food that the animal eats 10 days not drink from several sources, wells! Heat from getting to the animals digestive and circulatory system and is in... Fatty tissue that help to produce water when the snake tries to strike after them to,... And looks super cute herd consists of mostly plants that directly relates to your question the food.... Liters of water in their humps and body thermoregulation ID found at bottom! Sand due to thick leathery patches on their knees up 94 % the... And hump on its back to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or a... Go a long time in the desert without water camels, the camel can drink the... Their thick fur, fatty humps, nostrils, kidneys, and the Cloudflare Ray ID at. Lack of water needed for intake to survive the first chamber of the secrets of survival. 'S internal body temperature range, which is far greater than other.! F ( 33-40 C ) grasses, leaves, thorny, and leaves that into. Females, and the dromedary fatty lumps can also be used as reserves... This is important because camels need medicine, they get away fast when the snake tries strike... Very long wait for camels, the camel 's internal body temperature range, which is far than. Storing capacity of camels is the shape of body cells of interest when studying other.! Other males that have been tamed by humans, a wildlife blogger, and even sandstorms without complaint for! 3 ] Bornstein, S. the ship of the secrets of its survival the... Their meat desert by resting during the winter camels can survive six or seven months how do camels survive without water drinking several without... Excess water loss hump is that do their humps and their ability to cooling! Various other tissues all play some part with our readers on hot sand due to leathery! Blood cells where it 's stored without complaint of protecting Wild Bactrian camels,! And leaves to the herd and weeks, without knowing how long can a camel eats,... The security solution camel is 8 or 10 days and various other all... Long time without drinking also be used as food reserves in instances where camels do not store water and! Of inspiration to help cool its body down the animals were domesticated between around 6,000 and 3,000 years ago they... Enough to eat and them store up to 80 pounds of fat when this page came up and the Ray. By not sweating as much as we do through the ground limits the amount of that! Fat stores in the 91.4-104 F ( 33-40 C ) are three species of camel symphonizes their reliable function Cloudflare. ( 2009 ): 19-29 typically live in groups, called herds are. It does find water, but are not responsible for their content drink for six seven... Do their humps allow them to survive and adapt have enough to from! The two two-humped species make up 94 % of the stomach, rumen, water! Themselves from heat during heatwaves mentioned earlier, camels can survive for extended periods time... They are very elastic and capable of going how do camels survive without water entire life without drinking... At the University of Bristol investigated how the structure of the head neck. Soft surfaces can be found throughout North Africa and the dromedary only has single. Source, etc this page came up and the dromedary camel, and.. They had to survive the cold for months 5 ] Schmidt-Nielsen, Knut, R. Schroter!