![]() ![]() Both animals eat bamboo, and have developed this physical trait geared to gripping those tubular stalks, a phenomenon of adaptation to a shared environment known as convergent evolution. These specially evolved front paws, each with an elongated wrist bone, allows the animals to manipulate the principle ingredient of their second common feature: diet. The giant panda's genus is Ailuropoda-which in this case means ‘cat-foot’, rather than simply ‘cat’.Īnd it's in the foot that these apparently dissimilar creatures share one of two fascinating common features: the ‘false thumb’, or modified sesamoid digit. While pandas both giant and red share a common name, given their obvious physical differences you might expect them to not share a scientific name. “They can be found in pairs at the time of their mating, and when cubs are accompanied by a mother.” Ang Phuri says the panda's name could have originated from another Nepali word, punde, which means ‘having white marks on their face,’ adding: “It is true in terms of etymology that red panda is the only ‘true’ panda.” “The red pandas are solitary and shy animals,” says Ang Phuri Sherpa, Nepal country director for conservation group The Red Panda Network. The animal was described by French zoologist Frédéric Cuvier in 1825, who added the scientific name Ailurus fulgens, literally, ‘shining cat.’ Not unforgivably, Cuvier judged the red panda as being a particularly anti-social member of the raccoon family. One thing is certain, however- it was applied to the red panda first. The word ‘panda’ has an ambiguous origin, but one theory is that it is from either the Nepali nigalya ponya (‘bamboo eater’) or paja (‘claw’). But is it simply a case of lazy name-calling? Not quite. Complete with a resplendent, ringed tail, cheese-wedge ears and pointed snout, the red panda is thoroughly cute-but in a way that's thoroughly unlike the other creature with which it shares the ‘p’ word. The giant panda looks like a black bear in a costume the red panda looks like a racoon that's gone rusty. The red panda, however, is roughly comparable to a weighty house cat. ![]() At a standing height of five to six feet and a weighing up to 250 pounds (113 kg), the giant panda-and its higher altitude, slightly slighter subspecies the Qinling panda-is roughly comparable to a stocky, weighty human. Or black and white?įirstly, the most obvious difference. Despite it actually being the creature most entitled to the name. But were you presented with a lineup and told to indicate the ‘panda’, one would stick out like a sore, rather red thumb. There are in fact two distinct species that share this iconic title: the giant, and the red panda. But the infamously partner-picky, bamboo-chewing giant panda endemic to a sliver of China isn't the only creature to answer to the name. Say 'panda' and immediately your mind goes big, fluffy, rare-and monochrome. ![]()
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