Red Pandas are their own species – they aren’t a breed of bear, panda or raccoon. They have similarities to all 3 in appearance and behaviour – but that’s it.
What Breed Is A Red Panda Most Like?
Is a Red Panda related to bears or raccoons – is it even a panda? These are all common questions around this elusive and very strange creature that lives almost entirely in trees – yet has jumped around a lot across the animal kingdom in terms of what exactly is it?
The red panda was first likened to raccoons. After the colonization of North America – it was found that there were such adorable things as raccoons and their relatives who all lived up trees and in forests – and most importantly all had long stripy tails.
Then – they were popped in with the bears. These little critters were found across Asia – which was where several species of the bear were found. Several of these overlapping species of actual bears lived in trees too – so it was considered a reasonable assumption. It was long accepted like this because taxonomy in those days was based on physical similarities and locations rather than genetic analysis. Similarly so for the real panda – who was also (by association) thought to be a bear too.
Finally, the real panda – the Giant Panda – was moved over into its own family slightly away from the real bears after science progressed – although it retained the moniker ‘bear’. And due to the similar habitats and geographical locations they were found in – plus the specially adapted ‘thumb’ they both shared – the Red Panda moved over with it and kept its ‘panda’ name. Both their scientific names are from very similar stems.
However, science finally caught up with the Red Panda – and it was genetically found to be a member of the weasel family – so, the Red Panda was moved closer to the raccoon family again instead. Alone in its own family now – somewhere between skunks and weasels, it sits quite happily.
Is A Red Panda A Type Of Panda?
The Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) is actually not a panda at all. Even though it eats mainly bamboo, lives in Asia, and has a sort of proto thumb – just like the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) – it isn’t biologically the same species.
The Red Panda was in fact the first animal to be called a ‘panda’ (because of their weird thumb and habit of eating bamboo). It wasn’t until the Giant Panda was discovered – and the similarities between them matched up – that the Giant Panda became called a panda. They then used ‘giant’ and ‘red’ to tell them apart, and some even call it ‘Lesser Panda’.
It was long thought that the two types of panda were related in some way as they had so much in common. They were found living in the same sort of places after all – but it took genetic science to finally split them up. The Giant Panda was found to stem off historically with the true bears (although it broke off very early so isn’t in the genus Ursus like all the other bears) – and the Red Panda was found to have moved off very early from the animals that would eventually be called weasels and raccoons.
Is A Red Panda A Type Of Bear?
Because they (both pandas) acted a little bit like the Asian bears – such as the Sloth Bear and Sun Bear – and were very arboreal in nature – this link was made between them and they were thought to be true bears for some time. The Giant Panda is still called ‘the panda bear’ as one of its common names because of this (and the fact it is the size and shape of a true bear). It was only because of its similarities to the Red Panda that it stayed as a panda for so long.
The Red Panda was also known locally as the ‘bear-cat’ and/or the ‘cat-bear’ indicating the early confusion as to what it actually was. It was never thought to be related to a cat though (and in with the felines) – which is strange as they are totally the same size and have that wild-cat bushy tail?
What Are the Requirements for Owning a Red Panda as a Pet?
Owning a red panda as a pet comes with several requirements. Firstly, ensure you have enough space and the right habitat, as they need a secure and spacious enclosure. Next, consider the dietary needs of red pandas, which mainly consist of bamboo and other fruits. Additionally, provide enrichment opportunities to keep them mentally stimulated. Lastly, research local regulations as owning a red panda as a pet may be illegal in certain areas.
Is A Red Panda A Type Of Raccoon?
Finally – we got there. Having a bushy, striped tail, and inquisitive nature and great arboreal skills would make most people today think of raccoons and coatis. It would be rightly assumed that they were from the same family based on the tail alone knowing what we know today about the animal world and migration of species. However, at the time – other factors seemed more important.
So, it was no surprise with technology at the helm – that genetic markers were identified that fitted the Red Panda in with the Mustelids: weasels, raccoons and skunks. This made more sense because the characteristics were so much more similar than either bears or pandas – even though similar traits can be found in very different animals of course (for example: dolphins and fish or bats and birds).
This recent placing means that they still belong to the same main branch of carnivores as the bears and pandas – but very much more distantly related.
Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens) are their own species – and they are more related to raccoons then they are to the bears, or the panda specific. But have similarities to all the others in appearance and behaviour.
