Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) belong to the bear family (Ursidae). They have distinct black and white coloration. They have black fur on their limbs, ears, and shoulders. Their face, belly, and middle of their back is white. The also have black fur around their eyes. Giant pandas grow to average weights of 102kg (225lbs) and reach 65cm-70cm (26in-28in) tall at the shoulder.

Giant pandas have powerful jaws and teeth that are flat and well-adapted to a bamboo diet. The giant panda mating season is between March and May and young are usually born in August or September. Giant pandas are reluctant to breed in captivity. Giant pandas spend between 10 and 12 hours each day feeding and foraging for food (Source: Bies).

Classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Ursidae
• Subfamily: Ailurinae
• Genus: Ailuropoda
• Species: Ailuropoda melanoleuca (Source: Bies)

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Habitat: Montane forests of mixed conifers and broadleaf species where bamboo is prevalent (Source: Bies).

Range: Sichuan, Gansu, and Shanxi provinces of China (Source: Bies).

Diet: Primarily bamboo. Also eats fruits, fish, small mammals, and insects (Source: Bies).

Status: Red List Category & Criteria (ver 2.3, 1994): EN B1+2c, C2a. Endangered with a severely fragmented habitat of less than 100km² which is continuing to decline (Source: Bear).