Are pandas bears?

BRY2K

Good question. While we generally refer to pandas as "bears" there is much discussion around whether they are bears, raccoons or their own species. They share some features of bears and some of raccoons. Genetic testing of pandas by zoologists has determined that they are in fact from the "bear" family. All mammals in the order Carnivora evolved from a group of animals known as the Miacids. Miacids had small, sharp-edged teeth called carnassials, which is the hallmark of the order. The precursors to the group that became bears split off into the Amphicyonidae (Bear Dogs) and the Procyonidae (Raccon Family) groups, leaving the Cephalogale group. The Cephalogale group split into the Ursavus group and the groupo that would soon evolve into the sealions and walruses, some 30 million years ago. The first modern bear to arise from this group was the Giant Panda, which arose between 18 and 22 million years ago. http://www.lioncrusher.com/family.asp?family=Ursidae http://www.greatbear.org/pandabear.htm Dec 23 07, 1:06 PM

star_gazer

There are two kinds of Panda, giant panda and lesser panda, are they both from the same animal family? Dec 23 07, 8:13 PM

AyatollahK

Probably not, although even that is unsure. "For many decades the precise taxonomic classification of the panda was under debate as both the giant panda and the distantly related red panda share characteristics of both bears and raccoons. However, genetic testing suggests that giant pandas are true bears and part of the Ursidae family, though they differentiated early in history from the main ursine stock. The giant panda's closest ursine relative is the Spectacled Bear of South America. Disagreement still remains about whether or not the red panda belongs in Ursidae, the raccoon family Procyonidae, or in its own family, Ailuridae." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Panda Dec 24 07, 12:46 AM