Cognitive performance and variability in dromedary camels: insights from a comparative psychometric approach

Contemporary research in animal cognition has expanded our understanding of non-human intelligence, yet behavioural and cognitive traits in dromedary camels remain largely unexplored. This study pioneers the empirical assessment of cognitive performance and variability in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) using a comparative psychometric framework adapted from human and animal cognition protocols. A total of 130 Canarian dromedaries were evaluated across thirteen cognitive traits, with individual performance indices calculated through a mental age-based model. Results revealed substantial interindividual variability in cognitive performance, with key modulating factors including group dependence, docility, and concentration. Animals with higher herd affiliation displayed above-average scores, suggesting the presence of a collective intelligence (c-factor), while independent individuals exhibited better memory and perseverance but lower attentional stability. Additional influences such as sex, sex neutering status, handler interaction, and flock size significantly shaped cognitive profiles, whereas phenotypic traits like eye and coat color had only subtle effects. These findings support the integration of cognitive assessment into camel selection schemes, with implications for animal welfare, training efficiency, and functional specialization in tourism, assisted services, and labor contexts.