The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), also known as the panda bear or simply panda, is a species of bear endemic to China. It is known for its diet that consists of bamboo and its colors, characterised by its white coat with black patches around the eyes, ears, legs, and shoulders. A brown variant exists, though it is classified as a subspecies of giant panda. It is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN due to deforestation and infrastructural development. The giant panda is often recognized as the symbol of China.
While it is primarily herbivorous, the giant panda still has the digestive system of a carnivore, and will feed on carcasses on the occasion. It possesses a thumb on its forepaw, which helps it hold bamboo while feeding. Its coloration appears to serve as camouflage in its environment. Interestingly, the giant panda does not hibernate, unlike the brown bear. Its ancestor was Ailuropoda baconi.
It should be noted that like other bears, the giant panda has the capacity to attack humans on rare occasions. They can be severe, often happening when the animal is threatened, surprised, or when a person enters its enclosure in captivity (aside from feeding time).[1]
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The giant panda is mentioned in the second evolutionary fact of Ailurarctos, where both have a false thumb.
