chordata

A subclass of vertebrates.

mammal

Carnivore, carnivore

Canidae, a suborder Canidae.

Xiong Ke, Xiong Ke

Giant panda subfamily

panda

The giant panda is a lively animal with a unique black and white coat color. Its Latin name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca refers to its black and white appearance. The species and genus of giant pandas have been debated for a century. The recent DNA analysis shows that it is a generally accepted classification method of Xiong Ke and Giant Panda subfamily in the world, and it is gradually recognized in China. The traditional classification of giant pandas in China lists them as giant pandas. It represents an early branch of Xiong Ke. Adult giant pandas are about 120~ 190 cm long and weigh 85 ~ 125 kg. Unique features include: large and flat molars, one of which has developed into a "fake thumb", all of which are to adapt to the life of eating bamboo. Unlike the other six kinds of bears, neither the giant panda nor the sun bear hibernates. The ancestor of giant panda is Ailuaractos lufengensis, which is the earliest carnivorous panda evolved from bear-like species. At first, the main branch of the panda continued to evolve in central and southern China. One of them appeared in the early Pleistocene about 3 million years ago and was smaller than the panda today. Judging from its teeth, it has evolved into an omnivore that eats bamboo. Since then, this main branch has spread to the subtropics, with a wide distribution, and fossils have been found in North China, Northwest China, East China, Southwest China, South China and even Vietnam and North Myanmar. In this process, the giant panda adapted to the subtropical bamboo forest life, gradually increased in size, and lived on bamboo. The giant panda reached its peak in the middle and late Pleistocene 500,000-700,000 years ago. Nowadays, the molars of giant pandas are well developed, and their claws have a "thumb" in addition to five toes. This "thumb" is actually a specialized formation of a wrist bone, scientifically called "radial sesamoid bone", which mainly plays the role of holding bamboo. The giant panda in Qinling Mountains has been identified as a subspecies of giant panda.