Pandas are synonymous with cuteness. At the first mention of pandas most people automatically think about those giant black and white bears that love bamboo and rolling around.
But did you know that the first mammal to be dubbed a “panda” was actually the red panda? That’s right, these adorable fuzzy creatures are the original pandas.
Red pandas are no larger than a house cat. Their distinguishing traits include thick red fur on the upper parts, blackish fur on the bottom, and a round face with distinct teardrop markings below the eyes.
Red Panda Key Highlights
- Red Pandas, often dubbed the “original” pandas, are notoriously shy, experts at camouflage, and share behavior traits with both cats and bears (but not pandas).
- Red Pandas possess plenty of physical traits that are solely their own. These include their 20-inch long tails, glow-in-the-dark faces and 6-fingered paws.
General Info About Red Panda
| Habitat: | Forests |
| Location: | The Temperate Forests of the Himalayas |
| Lifespan: | Wild: 8 years, Captivity: 14 years |
| Weight: | 6.6 – 14 lbs |
| Diet: | Bamboo, insects, bird eggs, small rodents |
| Predators: | Leopards |
| Size: | Length: 20-25 inches, Height: 8-10 inches |
| Top Speed: | 16 mph (26 km/h) |
Learn more by reading our ultimate profile of the Red Panda!
Top 12 Facts About Red Pandas
1) Red Pandas are Not Relatives of Giant Pandas
Contrary to popular belief, red pandas are not actually related to giant pandas. In fact, some studies show that these creatures may be closely related to raccoons in terms of ancestry and physical features.
Some scientists also argue that red pandas belong to the Mustelidae family, consisting of otters, wolverines, and weasels.
2) A Red Panda’s Tail Can Act as Both a Blanket and Camouflage
A red panda’s tail can measure up to 20 inches in length, making it almost as long as the animal’s entire body. Its basic purpose is to sustain the red panda’s balance as it traverses through trees at top speed.
A useful side benefit is that it also helps the mammal camouflage itself among the lichen and moss-covered trees that form its habitat. They’ll also occasionally use their tail as a wraparound blanket, putting its extraordinary length to good use.
3) They Can Consume Up to 20,000 Bamboo Leaves in a Day
At last, we’ve found something that connects both red pandas and giant pandas – their love for consuming bamboo. In the red panda’s case, it is said that these creatures eat about 20-30 percent of their total body weight in bamboo.
However, their maximum limit is noted to be about 20,000 bamboo leaves per day. Which is insane! Perhaps it’s because of how plentiful the plant is in their natural cloud-forest habitat.
4) Behaviorally, Red Pandas are Closer to Cats
Red pandas display plenty of cat-like behavior, especially when it comes to caring for their cubs.
They certainly show the same dexterity as cats, jumping and clawing their way across trees to get from point A to point B. They’re also known to create their own birthing dens (just like cats) in a hollow tree or tree stump.
5) Red Pandas are Classified as Carnivores
Despite bamboo being a staple in their diet, red pandas are classified as carnivores. Mainly because they’re believed to be descendants of carnivores.
Occasionally, these mammals will chow down on small game and insects, but only if they can’t find any bamboo nearby.
6) They Have 6 “Fingers”
Another physical trait red pandas share with giant pandas is having six digits on their front paws. This is because of their claw-like thumbs, which are actually modified wrist bones that help them climb trees.
It is said that while giant pandas evolved this false thumb feature to pull out bamboo, red pandas evolved their false thumbs to help them climb trees. Only later did they adapt to using this feature to pull out and eat bamboo.
7) They Spend Two-Thirds of the Day Sleeping
Red pandas are both crepuscular (they hunt during the twilight hours) and nocturnal. Which has led scientists to claim that these creatures can sleep up to 17 hours in a day.
During the day, even when they’re not sleeping, you’ll usually find them resting in tree hollows or on branches.
8) Red Pandas Glow in The Dark
To be more precise, it’s their faces that glow in the dark. The white on their faces gives off an almost luminescent glow during the night. This characteristic helps them hunt and guide their cubs during nighttime.
Another fur-related fun fact: The bit of red fur running down from their eyes to the corner of their mouths is designed to protect them from the glare of the sunlight.
9) Most of Them Reside in the Eastern Himalayas
Most red pandas reside in high-altitude forests located in the eastern Himalayas. They prefer staying at elevations between 5,000 and 13,500 feet for most of the year.
However, they do tend to move downwards during winter months to escape the cold.
10) Red Pandas Can Quack Like a Duck
Despite their shy and quiet nature, a red panda is known for making a number of distinct noises including squeals, grunts and hisses.
However, the most popular among these is the huff-quacking sound the younger ones make to communicate with each other and their mother.
11) They Have Many Monikers
Since red pandas are considered a sort of hybrid species combining features of cats, bears, racoons and foxes, they’ve been christened with many names.
These include firefox, red cat-bear, red bear-cat, the original panda and the lesser panda.
12) Red Pandas are an Endangered Species
Red pandas have been mercilessly poached and hunted for decades now. In fact, researchers believe that the red panda population has declined by about 50 percent in the past two decades alone.
Intense deforestation have also made them lose plenty of their habitat. Considering all of this, it’s no wonder they’ve been classed as an endangered species.
Authorities, however, still haven’t been able to count exactly how many of these mammals are left due to their overall secretive and shy nature. The rumored number is thought to be around 2,500 to 10,000.
Learn more by reading our ultimate profile of the Red Panda profile!
