Red Panda
Red Panda / Lesser Panda Facts
| Size | Up to 25 inches (64 cm) |
| Speed | Up to 24 mph (38 km/h) |
| Weight | 7-14 pounds (3-6 kg) |
| Lifespan | 8-10 years |
| Food | Bamboo, birds, lizards, insects |
| Predators | Snow leopards, martens |
| Habitat | Nepal, Burma, China |
| Order | Carnivore |
| Family | Ailuridae |
| Scientific name | Ailurus fulgens |
| Characteristics | Predator with red red fur; long bushy, striped tail |
Main Characteristics
Red pandas are small predators with red, white and black fur and a striped tail. Just like the giant panda, they feed (almost) exclusively on bamboo. They are also called lesser pandas.
Where Does the Name Come From?
The word panda derives from the Nepalese word “ponya”. It means “bamboo eater”.
Species
What kind of animal is the red panda? Biologists still haven't agreed on this, so it's been placed in its own category: the Ailuridae family.
Distribution and Habitat
Red pandas live in Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, China and Tibet. Their habitat is bamboo forests in the Himalayas, which lie at an altitude of 4,900-13,000 feet (1,500-4,000 meters).
Life Style
Red pandas are active at dusk and at night. They're solitary animals that spend most of their time in trees, eating bamboo, resting and sleeping.
Anatomy and Appearance
Body
Red pandas have a long, narrow body, triangular ears, long whiskers, curved claws and a striped tail.
Size and Weight
Red pandas grow to about the same size and weight as a large cat. Their body length is 20-25 inches (51-64 cm) and their tail is 11-19 inches (28-48 cm) long. Their weight is 7-14 pounds (3-6 kg).
Fur Color
Why does the red panda have red fur? The red panda's red fur doesn't seem to blend in effectively with the green bamboo around it. Yet, the trees on which it lives are often overgrown with red mosses and lichens.
Paws
Red pandas have thick fur even under their paws.
Tail
The red panda's tail can be almost as long as itself: up to 18 inches (48 cm). It helps keep the balance while running and jumping. When taking a nap, the panda protects its face with its tail and uses it just like a sleep mask. It also provides warmth similar to that of a cozy, thick scarf.
“False” Thumb
Red pandas have what is known as a “false thumb”. It is actually an enlarged carpal bone, but similar to a thumb, it helps to grip or hold on to something.
Red Panda or Giant Panda – What’s the Difference?
The red panda and the giant panda seem to be related - because they are both called pandas. Actually they share only a few characteristics: their habitat is similar, they both feed on bamboo and own an extra thumb. There are many differences: The red panda isn't part of the bear family, but of the Ailuridae. It is also much smaller, lighter, has triangular ears instead of rounded ones, much longer whiskers, a much narrower body and a much longer tail.
Red Panda or Raccoon - What's the Difference?
The red panda and the raccoon also appear to be related - because they are similar in size, build and both have a striped tail. However, the raccoon belongs to the procyon family. It isn't widespread in Asia, but in the USA and Europe. Another big difference is that it is an omnivore and doesn't feed on bamboo. It also has much slimmer, more flexible fingers and a pointier, longer snout.
Diet
Red pandas are considered predators, but they mostly eat plants, with bamboo making up 98% of their diet. They spend 13 hours a day eating young bamboo leaves. However, since they contain very few nutrients, they need around 2-4 pounds (1-2 kg). So, an adult male weighing 14 pounds (6 kg) eats around 20-30% of his own body weight each day. For comparison: a person who weighs 176 pounds (80 kg) would need 35-52 pounds (16-24 kg) of food every day.
Behavior
Grooming
Red pandas groom their body and their face with their paws - like cats.
Drinking
When a red panda feels thirsty, it puts its paw in the water and then licks the water off its paw.
Sleeping
Red pandas sleep up to 17 hours per day.
Sounds
The red panda produces a surprising variety of sounds. It grunts, huffs, squeaks, hisses and whistles like a bird.
Defense Behavior
When red pandas feel threatened, they lower their heads, arch their tails, stand on their hind legs, raise their arms and snort loudly.
Senses and Abilities
Sense of Smell
Red pandas have an excellent sense of smell. They can detect scents both with their noses and with the underside of their tongues. This ability helps them locate food and communicate with their conspecifics.
Sense of Taste
Red pandas, alongside primates, are the only animals recognized for their ability to taste the artificial sweetener aspartame.
Speed
Red pandas can run up to 24 mph (38 km/h) on short distances.
Climbing
Red pandas are excellent climbers. They sleep in trees and can even climb down headfirst.
Jumping
Red pandas can jump up to 5 feet (1.5 meters).
Winter
Red pandas are perfectly adapted to winter. Their thick fur (even under their paws!) and their bushy tail protect them perfectly from the cold temperatures.
Life Expectancy
In the wild, red pandas reach an age of 8-10 years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Predators
Predators of the Red Panda mainly include snow leopards and martens.
Human Impact
The biggest threat to the red panda is human activities, particularly deforestation and the associated loss of habitat. However, livestock farming, free-roaming dogs, poaching and hunting are also a big problem.
How Many Red Pandas Are Left?
There are only 2,500-10,000 red pandas left in the wild. According to the IUCN its status is „endangered“.
Reproduction
The gestation period of red pandas is approximately three months. The cubs aren't red when they're born, but gray-black. The red hair doesn't grow until the age of 13-22 weeks. They stay with their mother for 18-20 months and then go their own way.
Fun Facts
Who Was First, Giant or Red Panda?
The red panda was described for the first time in 1821, 48 years before the giant panda was first mentioned in scientific documents.
Firefox Web Browser
In order to navigate through the internet, you need a web browser which enables you to enter web addresses (= URLs). Most people use Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox. Firefox is named after the red panda, because in China the little animal of prey is also called "firefox".
Turning Red
In the Pixar movie “Turning Red,” a 13-year-old girl is transformed into a red panda whenever she experiences strong emotions because of a magic spell.
The Red Panda Is Related To:
Animals in the Same Biome:
Sources:
- "Analyses of Sweet Receptor Gene ( Tas1r2 ) and Preference for Sweet Stimuli in Species of Carnivora" (https://www.researchgate.net)
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