- Home
- Species Description
- Habitat
- Feeding Habits
- Life Cycle
- Survival Adaptations
- Endangered Species
- Species Recovery
- Links
Species Description
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ailuridae
Genus: Ailurus
Species: Fulgens
The common name, red panda, comes from its red color and the word panda, which comes from poonya, meaning eater of bamboo.
The scientific name, Ailurus fulgens, means fire-colored cat.
The red panda is closely related to the giant panda because of its bamboo-filled diet. It is related in body shape and size to the raccoon, cat, and skunk.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ailuridae
Genus: Ailurus
Species: Fulgens
The common name, red panda, comes from its red color and the word panda, which comes from poonya, meaning eater of bamboo.
The scientific name, Ailurus fulgens, means fire-colored cat.
The red panda is closely related to the giant panda because of its bamboo-filled diet. It is related in body shape and size to the raccoon, cat, and skunk.
Species Description
Ailurus fulgens is a red-orange arboreal mammal. It has a cat-like body structure. The body averages 56-63 centimeters long, plus the 37-47 centimeter tail. Males and females both weigh 4-6 kilograms. It has long, fuzzy fur. Females must eat 3 times as much food when feeding her cubs milk.