Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
Red pandas have a modified wrist bone that acts like a sixth digit or 'false thumb,' allowing them to grasp bamboo stalks with incredible precision.
- Scientific name
- Ailurus fulgens
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Ailuridae › Ailurus
- IUCN Red List status
- Endangered
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- High-altitude temperate forests with a dense bamboo understory, typically between 2,200 and 4,800 meters.
- Diet
- Primarily bamboo shoots and leaves, supplemented by berries, blossoms, bird eggs, and occasionally small rodents.
- Range
- Himalayas, Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Myanmar
- Size
- 50-65 cm in body length with a 30-50 cm tail; weight ranges from 3 to 6 kg.
- Lifespan
- 8 to 12 years in the wild, up to 15 years in captivity.
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, deforestation for livestock grazing, and illegal poaching for the pet and fur trade.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Maintain a safe distance and do not attempt to touch or feed. If bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly and seek medical advice for potential infection.
The red panda ( Ailurus fulgens ), also called the lesser panda , the red bear-cat , and the red cat-bear , is a mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs; it is roughly the size of a domestic cat, though with a longer body and somewhat heavier. It is arboreal, feeds mainly on bamboo, but also eats eggs, birds, and...
Photo: Dave Pape, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), PD, via iNaturalist
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