Missy Townzen, age 9, of Hutchinson, Kan.. for her question:

IS THE CAMEL'S HUMP FULL OF WATER?

The camel's hump is not a storage place for water, as many persons believe. The hump is mostly a lump of fat.

Bands of strong tissue hold pads of fat together, forming the hump just above the camel's backbone. The hump of a healthy camel may weigh 80 pounds or more and usually makes up about one twentieth of the animal's total weight.

Most kinds of animals store fat in their bodies, but only camels keep most of their fat in a large lump. If food is hard to find, the fat in the hump provides energy for the animal.

If a camel is starving, its hump shrinks. The hump may even slip off the animal's back and hang down on its side.  After the camel has had a few days rest and some food, its hump becomes firm and plump again.