Cama (animal)
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2008-06-26T12:15:32Z
75.36.154.79
correction
{{Refimprove|date=April 2008}}
A '''Cama''' is a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between a [[camel]] and a [[llama]], produced via [[artificial insemination]] by a breeder in [[Dubai]] attempting to create a animal with the size and strength of the camel, but the more cooperative temperament of the llama.
The Dromedary camel is six times the weight of a Llama, hence artificial insemination was required to impregnate the Llama female (matings of llama male to Dromedary female have proven unsuccessful). Though born even smaller than a Llama calf, the Cama had the short ears and long tail of a [[camel]], no hump and [[llama]]-like [[Cloven-hoof|cloven hooves]] rather than the [[dromedary]]-like pads.
At four years old, the Cama became sexually mature and interested in [[llama]] and [[guanaco]] females. This first Cama has been a disappointment behaviorally, displaying an extremely poor temperament. A second Cama (female) has since been produced using artificial insemination.
Despite approximately 2-3 million years of evolutionary separation, both Old World and New World [[camelids]] have by chance maintained the same number of chromosomes, seventy-four, making this extraordinary cross-breeding between not only distinct [[species]], but distinct [[Family (biology)|families]], much easier and more likely to produce fertile offspring.
==External links==
* [http://www.cnn.com/EARTH/9801/20/cama.ap/ CNN - "Scientists produce first cross between camel and llama"]
* [http://www.datadubai.com/cama1.htm datadubai.com - "Rama, the Cama"]
* [http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/worldwide/story/0,9959,755518,00.html Guardian - "Bad karma for cross llama..."]
{{Camelids}}
[[Category:Mammal hybrids]]
{{even-toed-ungulate-stub}}
[[es:Cama (animal)]]
[[pl:Cama]]