Endangered Red Pandas
adaptations, instincts, and more
Adaptations
Red pandas have an extended wrist bone that acts like a thumb and greatly helps their grip. This helps them grasp bamboo tightly. Red pandas also have a small body mass. They usually weigh 8 to 14 pounds. Their small body mass allows them to walk on thin branches, making the panda harder to reach for heavier predators. Red pandas are very good climbers, and they have strong, curved claws. When comming down a tree headfirst, the red panda uses hind-foot mobility. During hind-foot mobility, the red panda tuns its ankle outward, allowing its hind claws to firmly grasp the tree trunk. Headfirst descent has many advantages for the red panda. First, it is much quicker than backing down the tree, and it also prepares the panda to make a quick exit when it reaches the ground.
Instincts
Red pandas are nocturnal from birth. They sleep during the day and they hunt and do other activities at night. When a red panda is threatened it arches it's back and makes hissing noises to scare of the threat or predator. Red pandas communicate to each other using body language. Red pandas usually eat bamboo, but they can also eat fruit, acorns, roots and eggs.
Traits
Red pandas resemble racoons. Their red-and-white markings blend in with the red mosses and white lichens that grow on the trees in which they live. Their soft, thick fur covers their entire body, even the soles of their feet! Red pandas use their long, bushy tails to balance themselves when they're in trees. They also cover themselves with their tails in winter.
Mimicry
Red pandas mimic racoons with their white markings.
Tail
The red panda's tail helps keep them warm. Their big, bushy tails add an additional 18 inches to their body!
Predators
Snow Leopards and Martens are the only predators of the Red Panda. Red pandas usually stay up in trees to stay awat from predators.