The dromedary and its family: the Camelidae
They originated in North America, from where they have since become extinct. At that time, they were about the size of a sheep. The species evolved over time, adapting to geographical conditions as they migrated
During the Miocene epoch, one ancestor stood over 3 metres tall
A line of smaller, humpless animals crossed the Isthmus of Panama and settled in South America
In northern South America, when domesticated they are known as llamas, and in the wild they are called vicuñas. Further south in Patagonia, the domesticated ones are alpacas, and in the wild they are called guanacos
Others from North America, having crossed the Bering Strait, went to Asia. To withstand the cold, they developed two humps; these are camels
and those that conquered Africa to withstand the intense heat developed a single hump; these are dromedaries.