O Red pandais a mammal which is currently classified as endangered according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This animal is a species found in temperate climates in forest regions and currently occurs in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.
The species has a rounded head, short muzzle and straight, triangular ears. The upper part of its body is reddish-brown in color, and its belly is black. The tail has a pattern of rings. The species is omnivorous, but feeds mainly on bamboo. Red pandas are solitary, arboreal animals with crepuscular and nocturnal habits. In general, the female gives birth to one to four young after a gestation period of about 134 days.
Read too: Panda bear — characteristics and curiosities about this large Chinese mammal
Abstract about the red panda
Red pandas are solitary animals with crepuscular and nocturnal habits.
Red pandas have a round head, short snout and straight ears.
Red pandas have reddish-brown fur on parts of their bodies, while the ventral region has black fur.
The face of these animals has white fur and reddish-brown markings under the eyes.
Red pandas are omnivorous animals, however more than 90% of their diet is made up of bamboo.
The red panda is currently found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.
is classified as in danger of extinction by the IUCN.
characteristics of the red panda
The red panda is an animal that has round head, short snout It is ears rstraight and triangular. The tail of this mammal is thick and ringed, and it is possible to observe about 12 alternating rings of red and yellow hair. They are approximately 56 to 62 cm long. In terms of weight, these animals weigh between 3.7 and 6.2 kg on average.
The body of red pandas is covered in the upper part by reddish-brown fur, while on the ventral part of the body the hairs are black. The face has white fur and reddish-brown markings under the eyes. To the legs are black, while the soles of the feet are white. The animal's coloration helps protect it from predators, helping it to blend in with the environment in which it lives.
the red panda has a false thumb, which is formed by an extension of a bone called the sesamoid. This false thumb is used by the animal to pluck bamboo leaves and also cling to tree branches.
They are solitary animals with crepuscular and nocturnal habits. In general, they are shy and also territorial animals. the pandas live, on average, from eight to ten years. However, the maximum life expectancy of the species is considered to be 14 years. Among the panda's predators, the snow leopard stands out.
See too: Vertebrate animals — group of animals that are part of the phylum Chordata
Red panda scientific name
The scientific name of the red panda isAilurus fulgens. This animal is included in the phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Ailuridae and genus Ailurus.
habitat of the red panda
The red panda is an animal found in temperate climates of deciduous and coniferous forest regions. In general, these places have bamboo understory and hollow trees. It is essentially an arboreal animal, living much of the time up in the trees, descending to the ground only in situations where this action is extremely necessary. According to the IUCN, the red panda it is currently found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.
Red panda feeding
the red pandaé an omnivorous animal, but he feeds mostly bamboo.That plant corresponding to 98% of their diet. However, this is not the only food that the red panda feeds on, and it is possible to observe in this animal's diet foods such as fruits, insects, eggs and chicks.
Know more: Which animals are endangered?
red panda reproduction
The red panda is a solitary animal that usually meets with others only during the breeding season. In the species, both male and female mate with more than one partner every season.
The female normally gives birth to one to four young after a period of gestation of about 134 days. Before the birth of the young, the female carries sticks, leaves and grass to line the place where the young will be born. This nest is usually made in a crevice in a rock or in a hollow tree.
After birth, the female cleans her young quickly and stays with them most of the time in the first few days. As the days pass, they increase their time away from the nest, returning from time to time to nurse and organize the place. Chicks leave the nest about 90 days after birth. and remain with the mother until the start of another breeding season.
Is the red panda endangered?
The red panda is currently Classified in the IUCN “Endangered” category. Still according to the IUCN, the population of red pandas has declined considerably — by 50% — in the last three generations. Threats to these animals are considered deforestation, accidental capture in traps for other animals and also the trafficking of species.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/animais/panda-vermelho.htm