Editing Bactrian camel (section)

{{Short description|Species of mammal of Asia}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{About|the domesticated and feral Bactrian camel|the critically endangered wild species|Wild Bactrian camel}}
{{pp-pc1}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Bactrian camel
| image = 2011 Trampeltier 1528.JPG
| image_caption = [[Shanghai Zoo]]
| status = DOM
| taxon = Camelus bactrianus
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| status_system =
| status_ref = 
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|title=List
|''Camelus bocharius'' {{nobr|{{small|[[Friedrich August Rudolph Kolenati|Kolenati]] (1847)}}}}
|''Camelus caucasicus'' {{nobr| {{small| Kolenati (1847) }} }}
|''Camelus genuinus'' {{nobr| {{small| Kolenati (1847) }} }}
|''Camelus orientalis'' {{nobr| {{small| J. Fischer (1829) }} }}
|''Camelus tauricus'' {{nobr| {{small| J. Fischer (1829) }} }}
}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=MSW3/>
| range_map = Camelus bactrianus distribution map.png
}}

The '''Bactrian camel''' ('''''Camelus bactrianus'''''), also known as the '''Mongolian camel''', '''domestic Bactrian camel''' or '''two-humped camel''', is a [[camel]] native to the [[steppe]]s of [[Central Asia]]. It has two humps on its back, in contrast to the single-humped [[dromedary]].{{efn|A [[mnemonic]] that helps one to remember the correct English word for each is: "Bactrian" begins with "B", and "Dromedary" begins with "D"; "B" on its side has two humps, whilst "D" on its side has only one hump.}} Its population of 2&nbsp;million exists mainly in the [[Domestication|domesticated]] form.<ref name=EDGE>{{cite web |title=Bactrian camel |year=2010 |website=EdgeofExistence.org |publisher=EDGE |url=http://www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=8}}</ref> Their name comes from the ancient historical region of [[Bactria]].<ref name=ARKBIODIV>{{cite web |title=Quick Facts about Camels' Domestication History |year=2021 |website=arkbiodiv.com |url=https://arkbiodiv.com/2021/06/23/quick-facts-about-camels-domestication-history/}}</ref>

Domesticated Bactrian camels have served as [[pack animal]]s in [[inner Asia]] since ancient times. With its tolerance for cold, drought, and high altitudes, it enabled the travel of [[Camel train|caravans]] on the [[Silk Road]]. Bactrian camels, whether domesticated or feral, are a separate species from the [[wild Bactrian camel]] (''Camelus ferus''), which is the only truly [[wildlife|wild]] (as opposed to [[feral]]) species of [[camelid]] in the [[Old World]]. Domestic Bactrian camels do not descend from wild Bactrian camels, with the two species having split around 1 million years ago.