camel

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Large cud-chewing mammal with two toes which have broad soft soles for walking on sand, and hooves resembling nails. Part of the even-toed hoofed order Artiodactyla, it is a ruminant, although it differs from most ruminants in having, only a three-chambered stomach. There are two species, the single-humped Arabian camel, or dromedary, Camelus dromedarius and the twin-humped bactrian camel C. bactrianus from Asia. They carry a food reserve of fatty tissue in the hump, can go without drinking for long periods, can feed on salty vegetation, and withstand extremes of heat and cold, thus being well adapted to desert conditions.

The flag uses the pan-Arab colours. The design may have been inspired by the pre-1958 Iraqi flag. Effective date: 24 November 1961. >>