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Contents Single layer centrifugation ( SLC) through a colloid is a tool for selecting viable mammalian spermatozoa but has not been used previously for fresh dromedary camel sperm. Semen from six camels (2 ejaculates/male) was diluted 1:5 (v:v) or 1:10 (v:v) in a Tris-citrate-fructose buffer for mechanical liquefaction by gentle pipetting. Following liquefaction, semen was processed either by SLC or by centrifugation without a colloid (control). Total and progressive motilities, CASA kinematics, vitality and acrosome integrity (eosin-nigrosin) and plasma membrane integrity (Hypo-osmotic swelling test; HOST), and fertilizing ability in a heterologous assay (zona-free goat oocytes) were evaluated. Both total ( p = .003) and progressive motilities ( p = .003) were higher in SLC-processed than in control semen samples, irrespective of dilution. Positive HOST values increased when using colloid in 1:5 ( p = .001) and 1:10 dilution ( p = .010). Colloid-selected sperm had higher penetration rates than controls ( p < .001 and p = .02 for 1:5 and 1:10 dilutions, respectively). However, only the SLC sperm at 1:5 dilution showed higher percentages of pronuclear formation ( p = .02) than controls. Dilution effect was only significant for total motility before in vitro fertilization, with higher values for the 1:5 dilution ( p = .033). The recovery rates of motile sperm between dilutions were similar (26.1% vs 35.4%; p = .226). In conclusion, SLC is a promising tool for selecting functional dromedary camel sperm and warrants more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]