Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: JimBob on 31/03/2006 00:57:34

Title: Camel Lips
Post by: JimBob on 31/03/2006 00:57:34
Hi all,

Why do camels have spilt upper lips?

The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: another_someone on 31/03/2006 01:12:25
quote:
Originally posted by JimBob

Why do camels have spilt lips?



Did you mean spilt, or split, or are they one and the same, being spilt because they were split, or split because they were spilt?[}:)][:D]



George
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: JimBob on 31/03/2006 01:12:45
SPLIT

My Bad

The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2006 01:14:01
What about camel toes? [:D]

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 31/03/2006 01:52:29
quote:
Originally posted by DoctorBeaver

What about camel toes? [:D]

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science




You beat me to it by 38 mins !! [:D]

Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: JimBob on 31/03/2006 02:27:17
I guess you two are PADDING the subject, right?


The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: rosy on 31/03/2006 14:50:43
Why do camels have split upper libs? I don't know... why do hares, rabbits etc?

Possibly (tho' I'm not sure) the question you should be asking is why do other animals (like, say, humans) not have split upper lips? The two sides of the upper lip close relatively late on in gestation... except when they don't, which gives a "cleft lip" or (older, rather un-PC terminology) harelip.

Of course, a baby with a cleft lip has more trouble suckling, but other animals seem to manage. Anyone got any ideas? Maybe it's just one of those things where it works so there's no particular pressure for change.

(By the way, although I as someone born with a cleft lip have no problem with the term "harelip", since it strikes me as usefully descriptive, especially when talking to people who've never seen an unrepaired cleft, I know some people regard it as deeply offensive. Ho-hum.)
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: another_someone on 31/03/2006 16:47:54
OK, wild guess time.

We are talking here about rabbits, hares, and camels – all have large incisors, and are herbivours (the two facts not unrelated).

Could the issue be to do with diet?

I realise that not all herbivores have split lips, but then different herbivorous have different diets.  I would imagine that some of the available diet for a camel might be fairly tough, and I would wonder if the lip being pulled away from the front teeth might protect it against some tough and abrasive foods that it might feed upon?

Are there any carnivorous that naturally have split lips?



George
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Hadrian on 31/03/2006 17:25:45
I think it because of riding around in pickup trucks!


(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.activity4life.com%2Fphoto%2FCamel_Pickup_Truc.jpg&hash=f6b96fe7f1ae0fca7c01378fa91dfd02)

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2006 18:26:59
Are they taking him to be turned into a packet of cigarettes?

By the way, is it true that camels are known as ships of the desert because they're full of Arab se(a)men?

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 31/03/2006 18:37:30
DoctorBeaver !!...you naughty man !


It is a well documented fact that Camels can be converted to power pickup trucks. What you can not see in the picture are the camels legs cycling furiously.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: another_someone on 31/03/2006 19:05:40
quote:
Originally posted by neilep

DoctorBeaver !!...you naughty man !


It is a well documented fact that Camels can be converted to power pickup trucks. What you can not see in the picture are the camels legs cycling furiously.



I thought you were going to suggest the truck was methane powered. [:)]



George
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 31/03/2006 19:28:20
quote:
Originally posted by another_someone

quote:
Originally posted by neilep

DoctorBeaver !!...you naughty man !


It is a well documented fact that Camels can be converted to power pickup trucks. What you can not see in the picture are the camels legs cycling furiously.



I thought you were going to suggest the truck was methane powered. [:)]



George




[:D]LOL...that's the heating system !!

Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Hadrian on 31/03/2006 20:41:11
Well why not?

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.activity4life.com%2Fphoto%2Fcarcamelpark.jpg&hash=24dd2457e0697f1896714b62d271f108)


What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 31/03/2006 21:01:25
Is it a lead-free camel ?
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: JimBob on 31/03/2006 22:45:34
Yes, it doesn' use Greciam Formula 2000

The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2006 23:38:05
I'd like to see them try to wheelclamp it! It would play havoc with speed cameras too [:D]

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 31/03/2006 23:46:04
...car washes would be a bit freaky too  !! [:D]

Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2006 23:50:28
Actually, if you look at the blue car on the far side of the camel, the camel's nose is the same shape. The car even has a hole in the front (under the numberplate) equivalent to where the camel's mouth is.

If my camel got wheelclamped, I'd really get the hump (I'll do it for you... groooaaaannnnn)

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 31/03/2006 23:58:30
DoctorBeaver...in one thread I praise your play on words, in this thread...I think we all deserve an apology !!

That's very acute observation  !

I just hope the camels exhaust does not 'put out ' in equal quantities that of it's bretheren car !
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 01/04/2006 00:22:40
quote:
Originally posted by neilep
I just hope the camels exhaust does not 'put out ' in equal quantities that of it's bretheren car !



Ahh, but the camel driver has a catalogue of felines. You know what's coming, don't you... it's a CAT LIST!

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 01/04/2006 02:25:53
Tightens rope, kicks away chair.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: JimBob on 01/04/2006 03:45:27
quote:
Originally posted by DoctorBeaver

Quote
Originally posted by neilep

Ahh, but the camel driver has a catalogue of felines. You know what's coming, don't you... it's a CAT LIST!




I must correct the good doctor. With a split upper lip, it would be a CAT LISP !

Think, man, think !!!!

The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 01/04/2006 11:26:31
An anagram of LISP is LIPS, which was the original topic of this thread. We seem to have gone full circle! [:)]

By the way, have you seen that film about the camel who time-travels in a sports car? "Bactrian Future"

*runs off & hides before being pelted with eggs & tomatoes*

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Andrew K Fletcher on 01/04/2006 13:19:05
I think you are in danger of giving the original poster the hump. Maybe we shouldn't split hair lips on this forum as it has little to do with general science, but it might be to give a camel accuracy when spitting at people? Or for the placement of a drinking straw to suck water up into it's hump while having it's testicles squished between two bricks to facilitate the required suction on the straw. One Would be bricker was asked if this is a painful practice. He replied only when i catch my finger between the bricks. But the most probable reason for a split lip is to prevent the traditional stiff upper lip in the British found Nocternal humping camel

"The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct."
K.I.S. "Keep it simple!"
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 02/04/2006 01:51:04
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew K Fletcher ...the placement of a drinking straw to suck water up into it's hump...



Contrary to popular belief, camels do not store water in their humps. Humps are used to store fat.

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Andrew K Fletcher on 02/04/2006 23:12:26
Awww Doc, you got me good, I had to smile when I wrote it thinking about you filing in to correct me about the water storage of the hump, but in effect it is possibly partially correct given that the fat cells do contain a fair amount of water :P

"The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct."
K.I.S. "Keep it simple!"
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 02/04/2006 23:33:21
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew K Fletcher

Awww Doc, you got me good, I had to smile when I wrote it thinking about you filing in to correct me about the water storage of the hump, but in effect it is possibly partially correct given that the fat cells do contain a fair amount of water :P

"The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct."
K.I.S. "Keep it simple!"




That is very true and, as I would expect someone of your calibre to know that, my reply was for the benefit of casual visitors who may not have known & then gone away thinking it was fact (hence my phraseology).

Brand new forum at
http://beaverlandforum.d4a.com
More than just science
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Hadrian on 04/04/2006 17:24:58
The camel spider, also called a wind scorpion, is an arachnid, but not a spider at all. It cannot weave a web and possesses no venom. Camel spiders are shade-seekers, called solpugids, which occupy desert regions worldwide.

Camel spiders grow to a length of about 5" (12.7cm) with legs outstretched, and are somewhat less daunting than their reputation.

The folklore began in 1991 with U.S. soldiers during the Gulf War, and was picked up again in 2003 when the U.S. returned to Iraq. Soldiers reported the spiders would scurry across the sand directly at them as if attacking. In truth camel spiders run after shade and are seeking the shade created by the soldiers. Misinformation about camel spiders ran rampant with rumors of their ability to run 25 mph (40 km/hr), jump several feet into the air, lay eggs in a camel's stomach, and even inject sleeping soldiers with anesthetic venom to


(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.activity4life.com%2Fphoto%2Fspider.jpg&hash=9625be1d10805bf668c5d1d096d3af71)

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Hadrian on 05/04/2006 18:17:30
you s**t on again and i really get the hump

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.activity4life.com%2Fphoto%2FCamel.jpg&hash=b70b879370c5e92f001db22dc1b64825)

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: neilep on 27/04/2006 00:14:50
How on earth did that bird manage to carry off such large prey....?[:D]

 It's clearly exhausted and has had to put down for a rest.....[;)]!


Men are the same as women, just inside out !
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: JimBob on 27/04/2006 01:26:50
Magpies will steal anything. Even a dromedary. Very obdurate they are. (Yoda)




The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Hadrian on 27/04/2006 10:24:05
Anything to with the actor Rustler Crow?

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: JimBob on 27/04/2006 17:07:43
Oh, yes, he's deep into it, as is the host of the American Tonight Show, Jay Leno.


The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: Hadrian on 27/04/2006 17:16:33
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.activity4life.com%2Fphoto%2Fpool.jpg+&hash=5d0d365600c1bfff4739aa124c4f9180)


What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
Title: Re: Camel Lips
Post by: moonfire on 04/06/2006 20:19:03
quote:
Originally posted by Hadrian

Well why not?

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.activity4life.com%2Fphoto%2Fcarcamelpark.jpg&hash=24dd2457e0697f1896714b62d271f108)


What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.




Well at least he doesn't need his emissions tested yearly, and talk about saving fuel costs!

"Lo" Loretta