Jimmy Holliday, age 8, of Beaumont, Tex., for his question:

HOW MUCH WATER DOES A CAMEL NEED?

The amount of water a camel drinks varies with the time of year and with the weather. Camels usually need less water in winter when the weather is cool and the plants they eat contain more moisture than in summer.

Camels that graze in the Sahara can go all winter without water and many refuse to drink if water is offered to them.

In summer, camels may drink about five gallons of water a day. But then they can go for two to five days without water. After that, they drink only as much as they need to replace their body moisture.

A camel needs little water because it gets some moisture from its food. Also, it keeps most of the water that is in its body. Most animals sweat when hot, and the evaporation of the water from their skin keeps them cool. But camels do not sweat much. Their body temperature may change as much as 11 degrees Fahrenheit without harm.

Camels can also go for days or even weeks with little or no food.