The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a
carnivoran native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
Despite sharing a name, red pandas aren’t in the same family as giant
pandas.
Red pandas were initially described as members of the raccoon family
(Procyonidae) due to their similar heads and tails.
Red pandas have pseudo-thumbs. Like giant panda bears,
red pandas have a pseudo-thumb, which is basically an extended wrist
bone that can function as a thumb but isn’t a true appendage.
Red pandas are one of earth’s living fossils. Fossils
found at the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee suggest that ancient
relatives of the living red panda inhabited North America between 5 and
12 million years ago.
They can digest cyanide. Red pandas can digest over 40
different species of bamboo. Like giant pandas, red pandas have evolved
to neutralize cyanide in their guts as they feed on bamboo, which
contains abundant cyanide compounds.
They are an endangered species. The IUCN lists red
pandas as endangered and believes that the population has declined by
50% over the past three generations. (Sources:
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