Camels and moose are very strong animals that live in some of the most extreme places on Earth.
Despite sharing some relations and similarities as both are ungulates (large mammals that bear their weight on their toes and belong to the same order), camels and moose are quite different.
In this article, we will compare the two animals and see who would win in a camel vs moose fight.
Comparing Camels And Moose
| Camel | Moose | |
| Size | – Height: 5.2-7.8 ft at the shoulder – Weight: 900-1,500 lb – Length: 7.2-11.5 ft | – Height: 4.6-6.9 ft at the shoulder – Weight: 800-1,500 lb – Length: 7.9-10 ft |
| Habitat | – Desert and steppe | – Forested areas |
| Speed | – up to 40 mph | – up to 35 mph |
| Teeth And Bite Force | – 400 PSI – 34 teeth | – unknown bite force – 32 teeth |
| Senses | – Excellent hearing – Excellent sense of smell– Great eyesight | – Strong sense of smell – Excellent hearing – Poor eyesight |
| Defensive Adaptations | – Thick skin and fur – Size – Excellent resilience to harsh climate | – Thick skin and fur – Size – Excellent resilience to harsh climate – Huge antlers |
| Offensive Powers | – Strong kicks – Powerful bites – Cud spitting | – Strong kicks – Huge antlers |
| Aggression Levels | – Moderately | – Moderately |
Camel Vs Moose – Size
When it comes to weight, camels and moose are quite similar – camels are slightly taller, longer, and heavier.
Camels usually weigh between 990 and 1500 pounds, while adult moose can weigh from around 800 pounds (smaller females) to 1,600 pounds (large adult males).
When it comes to height, camels are slightly taller than moose.
Camels can measure from 5.2 to 7.8 ft at the shoulder while moose are from 4.6 to 6.9 ft at the shoulder.
Finally, when it comes to body length, moose are smaller than camels.
Camels typically measure 7.2-11.5 ft from head to tail, while moose have 7.9-10 ft total length.
Fun Fact: The largest moose ever recorded was an Alaskan moose that had a shoulder height of 7.6 feet and a weight of 1,800 pounds. The largest camel species are dromedary (one-humped) camels that can have a maximum shoulder height of 7 ft 10 in and a weight of up to 1521 pounds. (according to Guinness World Records).
Camel Vs Moose – Habitat
Camels and moose live in different habitats. Camels are found in Central and South Asia, the Middle East, the Sahara Desert in Africa, and Australia, while moose live in North America, Baltic states in Europe, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Regardless of the type (one-humped or two-humped camel), camels are found in very hot places, like deserts, prairies, or steppes. Moose, on the other hand, inhabit forested areas with lots of snow during the winter.
Camels have lots of adaptations to survive harsh desert conditions, while moose are also well-adapted to cold weather thanks to their thickened skin, and dense and heat-retaining coats, among other things.
Camel Vs Moose – Speed
If they were to race on land, a camel would win against a moose by a slight margin.
The highest speed ever recorded for a camel was 40 mph. Moose, on the other hand, can run at speeds up to 37 mph.
When it comes to running endurance, camels can maintain a running speed of 15 miles per hour for about an hour or two, while moose can trot at around 20 mph for long periods.
When it comes to swimming, moose would win easily against a camel.
Despite their rough appearance, moose are actually good swimmers that can move through water for miles at around 6 mph. You might not realize, but camels can actually swim.
Camels native to Kutch in India can swim for up to 3 hours a day in search of food. They are not the fastest swimmers – we estimate that they move in water at about 0.3-0.4 mph, maybe even slower.
Camel Vs Moose – Teeth and Bite Force
Both camels and moose are herbivores and feed on twigs, leaves, and roots of woody plants.
Camels have very large teeth (34 in total) and strong jaw musculature that can generate a bite force of almost 400 PSI. Their strong teeth and tongue allow them to feed on tough branches and different pricky plants like cactuses without injury.
Moose have strong teeth (32 in total) they use to grab and crush their food. They have strong incisors on the lower jaw, firm lips, gums, and tongues to grab, pull, and crush tough branches. Their bite force wasn’t measured, so we can’t compare it to that of a camel.
Camel Vs Moose – Senses
Camels and moose have well-developed senses they use to find food, notice danger, and protect themselves.
Camels have large eyes and a keen sense of vision that allow the animal to see well, both during the day and at night. They also have excellent hearing and a great sense of smell they sometimes use to locate food (even carcasses!).
On the other hand, moose have a strong sense of smell and hearing but their eyesight is poor – their well-developed sense of smell allows them to detect the odor of a potential predator from a long distance away.
Camel Vs Moose – Defensive Adaptations
Both camels and moose have some very unique adaptations that help them survive the harsh conditions they live in and protect themselves from danger.
To stay safe, camels will kick with their long legs, bite with their strong jaws, and spit cud. During a sandstorm, a camel will close its nostrils to protect itself from the blowing desert sand. Their legs, necks, and fur keep them safe from the hot sand.
Moose have huge antlers (approximately 5 ft wide) to attract females and keep themselves safe by warning others to back away. They also have hoofed feet to walk on the deep snow and not sink, swim in the water, or just kick anyone that comes too close. Their long legs help them run fast and jump obstacles, while thick fur helps them stay warm during the winter.
Camel Vs Moose – Offensive Powers
Despite their slightly bigger size, moose are better equipped to fight compared to camels.
Camels have nasty bites that can inflict serious damage and powerful kicks that can kill or mutilate any predator with a single well-placed punch. They might also regurgitate cud they ate and spit it at the intruder, but that might not be enough.
Moose are bold animals that are ready to protect themselves from predators like bears and wolves. They will charge, stomp, kick with their hooves, or use their huge antlers to deal damage to the enemy. The antlers alone give moose a huge advantage over camels.
Camel Vs Moose – Aggression
Just like other animals when feeling threatened, camels and moose can be very aggressive and dangerous.
Camels are usually timid and tame creatures both to humans and to other members of their herd, but there are situations where you want to avoid male camels as they can be pretty aggressive (during their mating season or when being mistreated).
Moose aren’t usually aggressive towards people, but if provoked, they can become very dangerous and retaliate if harassed by humans, domesticated pets, or traffic.
So Who Would Win In A Fight Between A Camel And A Moose?
Despite the slight disadvantage in weight and size, a moose would win a fight against a camel.
Moose can be scary powerful and aggressive and can inflict serious damage on a camel thanks to its huge antlers. The camel would try to bite the moose’s leg or try to wrestle it to the ground with its long neck and lower center of gravity, but the moose would just charge at the camelid, push it to the ground, and win in this duel.
A camel will definitely put up a fight but the moose’s better offensive weapons and more fighting experience with other animals (like bears and wolves) will be too much for a camel to handle.
Read More: Who would win in a fight – a llama or an emu?
Summary
This concludes our article examining the differences and similarities between a moose and a camel.
Despite sharing some similarities, these two animals live in different habitats, run at different speeds, and have distinct adaptations that help them survive the harsh environments they live in.
In a camel vs moose duel, the animal with the antlers will have the advantage and will win more-often-than-not against the slightly larger camel.
If you enjoyed this article, make sure to check if moose and camels are anyhow related to one another.