[1] Camels were seen as exotic and useful creatures, known for their ability to move over desert terrain.
However, the Romans could not distinguish between bactrians and dromedaries[citation needed], thus using both as a means of transportation.
It is noted that camel cavalry was more commonplace due to the desert terrain during the early Muslim conquests.
A 1000-strong dromedarius unit, the ala I Ulpia Dromedariorum milliaria, was established by Trajan in Syria.
A small number of dromedarii is recorded as part of the Cohors XX Palmyrenorum based in Dura-Europos in Roman Syria.