What is the difference between pandas and bears

This was very interesting and very understandable for a non-scientist. It was well —stated and the illustrations were spot-on! Thank you for helping me understand a little more about my beloved animal! Email Address. Wen Yu strolling around her enclosure. JoAnn Mann on January 24, at pm. Sincerely, JoAnn Mann. Frances Aronson on January 24, at pm. Great report—happy to be of inspiration! Karen Tse on January 27, at pm. Excellent essay! Thank you. Like our Blog?

Their forequarters are huge, rear quarters relatively small. In bears, although some have huge forequarters, rears are generally not as reduced. The raccoon faction has argued that because of its skull and tooth structure, markings and other characteristics, the giant panda belongs in the same family from which raccoons and the lesser or red panda, which really does look like a raccoon, diverged millions of years ago. To put the matter to rest, the National Zoo researchers called on the powers of genetic technology.

They took some cell samples from a raccoon, a giant panda, a lesser panda and a trio of Bruins: one American brown bear, a spectacled bear and a Maylayan sun bear. Running the samples through three molecular tests that would reveal gene structure, they found the genetic similarities between bears and giant pandas far exceeded the number and extent of differences.

What does that imply? There are two recognized subspecies of the giant panda: the primary better-known subspecies Ailuropoda Melanoleuca and Ailuropoda Melanoleuca Qinlingensis the Qinling Panda.

Bears as a whole are fascinating, strong, and fearsome creatures. These ancient animals have been able to survive some of the most brutal conditions the planet and humans have thrown at them. They have been able to adapt and thrive in different terrain worldwide on several different continents.

Their native home is in the remote mountains of central China. Specifically in Sichuan, but also in the Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. However, human activities like farming and forest clearing have chased pandas out of many other areas they once lived in. Just like the panda, other bears have the digestive system and dentition of carnivores. But not the panda bear. Their diet is at least 99 percent bamboo. Though they will accept small quantities of honey, eggs, fish, yams, oranges, and bananas, giant pandas are notorious for being picky eaters.

On a day-to-day basis, other bears are much more active than our beloved pandas. They need to move around to find suitable food after all! Giant pandas would rather just sit as close as possible to a steady supply of bamboo and chomp away for hours at a time. How does this concern hibernation, you may wonder. Bamboo does not provide enough nourishment and body fat for them to sleep through the winter. In winter, other bears hibernate, pandas just get moving to slightly warmer environments.

Bears as a whole sport a wide kaleidoscope of body fur color. From the white polar bears, to black fur bears, blond fur, brown fur, reddish fur, and so on. Pandas have just the one similar pattern of white and black. The color distribution around their bodies are similar with the distinct black teardrop-shaped marking around both eyes. Unlike other bears that have five claws on each paw, the panda has six digits on its front paws.