Giant Panda
Species Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Common Name: Panda Bear
Group Name: Embarrassment
Domain: Eukarya (Eukaryote)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Infraorder: Arctoidea
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ailuropoda
It is believed that Pandas roamed the earth as early as three million years ago.
Before 1936, Pandas were relatively unknown to most of the world outside of China.
There were believed to be two main types of Pandas – the Giant Black-and-White Panda and the Red Panda.
Zoologists debate about whether Pandas are Bears or Raccoons. They share some bear traits, and also have some Raccoon traits.Seems thou they now know that the Giant Panda is originally from the Bear family, while the Red Panda was not.
The Giant Panda is the only member of the genus Ailuropoda because it is not very closely related to any other bears.
An adult Giant Panda can grow as tall as five feet and they can weigh as much as 350 pounds.
In the wild, a Panda’s diet consists mostly of bamboo shoots which is about 99% of their diet.
They also tend to eat other grasses as well as small rodents.
Pandas typically prefer to be alone. Giant Pandas cannot compete with each other for food and resources, it takes too much energy.
There are tales from ancient China of the Panda being the symbol of peace.
Qinling Panda
Subspecies: Ailuropoda m. qinlingensis
