Videos of camels appearing to expel a strange, fleshy object from their mouths often captivate the internet, leading to questions about this structure. This object is not a stomach, tongue, or any other internal organ. This unusual anatomical feature is specific to male camels and is known scientifically as the soft palate diverticulum, or more commonly, the dulla.
Identifying the Structure Expelled
The dulla is an inflatable, tongue-like sac that only mature male dromedary camels can exteriorize. This structure is a unique extension of the camel’s soft palate, the muscular, soft part toward the back of the roof of the mouth. When inflated and pushed out, the dulla hangs from the side of the camel’s mouth, often leading onlookers to mistake it for a large, pink organ.
Its appearance is fleshy, highly expandable, and often described as a balloon or a large, pink bubble. The tissue is composed of loose connective tissue, which allows for rapid inflation. It is covered by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, a tough outer layer that protects the structure as it is repeatedly extruded and retracted.
The expulsion mechanism relies on internal pressure rather than muscular contraction alone. To display the dulla, the male camel closes off the passage to the naso-pharynx and forces expired air into the diverticulum. This action increases the pressure within the pouch, causing the structure to rapidly inflate and project outward from the side of the mouth.
While the dulla is present in both male and female camels, it remains small and unnoticeable in females and young males. Only adult males develop the capacity to inflate and exteriorize the diverticulum to this extreme degree. The ability to control and display this feature is entirely linked to the animal’s reproductive maturity.
The Purpose of the Display
The display of the dulla is an act of sexual signaling, performed exclusively during the breeding season, often referred to as the rut. This period is driven by a surge in testosterone, which triggers a complex set of ritualistic behaviors in the male camel, or bull. The appearance of the inflated dulla is a visual advertisement of the male’s breeding condition.
The primary function of the display is to attract females and establish dominance over rival males. A bull that can successfully and repeatedly inflate the large, pink sac is signaling his vigor and reproductive fitness. The size and successful expulsion of the dulla serves as a non-violent challenge to other males in the vicinity.
During the rut, the male camel will often pace, roar, and froth at the mouth while displaying the dulla. These behaviors combine to create a powerful sensory experience intended to impress potential mates. The visual cue of the pulsating, fleshy sac is central to the overall mating ritual.
The display is a temporary, intermittent behavior, often exhibited when the camel is excited or actively chasing females. Once the mating season concludes, the hormonal drive diminishes, and the male ceases the display. This behavioral sequence is a specialized adaptation for reproduction in the camel’s competitive environment.
The Behavior of Defensive Spitting
The visual spectacle of the dulla display is often confused with the camel’s well-known defensive action, “spitting.” This aggressive behavior is a separate function used for self-protection, employed by both male and female camels. It is not an element of the mating ritual, but rather a warning signal.
The material expelled is not simple saliva, as the term “spitting” suggests, but a mixture of stomach contents and digestive fluids. Camels are ruminants, meaning they chew and re-chew partially digested food called cud. When threatened, the camel forcibly regurgitates this cud, propelling it toward the perceived threat from their multi-chambered stomach.
This projectile defense is effective because the mixture is foul-smelling, acidic, and slimy. The purpose is to startle, distract, or disgust a predator or annoyance, allowing the camel time to escape. The foul odor and texture serve as a strong deterrent that requires minimal physical effort.
This defensive action is often predictable, as the camel typically makes loud, guttural noises and puffs out its cheeks just before expelling the stomach contents. This warning provides a brief window for the threat to retreat before the cud is launched. The defensive regurgitation is a survival tool, contrasting sharply with the sexually-driven, non-aggressive nature of the dulla display.