Red Panda
By A.F.
Description
- Long reddish brown fur with black fur on lower parts(Wikipedia2)
- Light face with white badges; markings of individuals may vary(Wikipedia2)
- Long bushy tail with yellowish red rings(Wikipedia2)
- Head and body: 20-25 in., tail: 11-23 in.(Wikipedia2)
- Males: 8.2-14 lb., Females: 6.6-13lb.(Wikipedia2)
Food Chain and Habitat
- they forage mostly in trees and are omnivores(Wikipedia 5)
- predators include the snow leopard and marten(Wikipedia 5)
- eats mostly bamboo; bamboo shoots are easier to digest in the summer and fall, harder in the spring, and even harder in the winter(Wikipedia 5)
- also eats small mammals, birds, eggs, flowers, and berries(Wikipedia 5)
- they are present from the Himalayas to Nepal to China(Wikipedia 3)
- they live in temperate forests, foothills, and the tops of mountains(Wikipedia 3)
- the climate is a moderate 50-77 degrees Fahrenheit with little annual change(Wikipedia 3)
- their dens are in tree hollows(Wikipedia 4)
Adaptation
- their long bushy tail provides camouflage(Wikipedia 2)
- sharp, curved claws for grasping narrow tree branches(Wikipedia 2)
- legs have black fur for thermal insulation(Wikipedia 2)
- ''false thumb" for descending headfirst down a tree(Wikipedia 2)
- scent glands on feet to mark territory(Wikipedia 2)
- can tolerate between 63-77 degrees Fahrenheit(Wikipedia 2)
- stands on hind legs when threatened(Wikipedia 2)
Reasons for endangerment
- competition with domestic livestock(Wikipedia 7)
- deforestation(Wikipedia 7)
- illegal poaching/hunting(Wikipedia 7)
- The Chinese consider their fur good luck(Wikipedia 7)
- Direct harvest from the wild(Wikipedia 7)