Giant PandaGiant PandaPlacental MammalPlacental Mammal

By: Wil CrowsonBy: Wil Crowson

ClassificationClassification

Kingdom:Kingdom: Animalia Animalia Phylum:Phylum: Chordata Chordata Class: Class: MammaliaMammalia Scientific Name: Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleucaAiluropoda melanoleuca Common Name:Common Name: Giant Panda Giant Panda

Common CharacteristicsCommon Characteristics

Giant Pandas show the evolutionary advantage of having hair and Giant Pandas show the evolutionary advantage of having hair and mammal glands. Mammals were the 1mammal glands. Mammals were the 1stst animals on earth to show animals on earth to show these traits.these traits.

Symmetry:Symmetry: BilateralBilateral Body cavity: Body cavity: Coelomate – all mammals have a full digestive system Coelomate – all mammals have a full digestive system

(tube within a tube)(tube within a tube) Type of organism:Type of organism:

Free livingFree living omnivoreomnivore terrestrialterrestrial

Giant Pandas all show cephalization with three body regions (head, Giant Pandas all show cephalization with three body regions (head, thorax, and abdomen)thorax, and abdomen)

Life Cycle/ReproductionLife Cycle/Reproduction Breeding IntervalBreeding Interval

Females are capable of breeding Females are capable of breeding annually. (usually only breed every annually. (usually only breed every other year though)other year though)

Breeding SeasonBreeding Season springspring

Number of OffspringNumber of Offspring 22

Gestation PeriodGestation Period 95 to 160 days 95 to 160 days

Birth MassBirth Mass 3 to 5 ounces 3 to 5 ounces 1/900th the size of its mother 1/900th the size of its mother

Time to WeaningTime to Weaning 8 to 9 months8 to 9 months

Age at Sexual or Reproductive Age at Sexual or Reproductive Maturity Maturity 4 to 8 years of age 4 to 8 years of age

Average Lifespan (wild)Average Lifespan (wild) 20 years average20 years average

Average lifespan (captivity)Average lifespan (captivity) Up to 35 yearsUp to 35 years

small groups of pandas share a small groups of pandas share a large territory and sometimes large territory and sometimes meet outside the breeding meet outside the breeding season. They are mostly solitary season. They are mostly solitary within group alsowithin group also

Habitat/NicheHabitat/Niche

HabitatHabitat Giant Pandas live in a few Giant Pandas live in a few

mountain ranges in central mountain ranges in central China: in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and China: in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provincesGansu provinces

The Pandas live in broadleaf and The Pandas live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense coniferous forests with a dense under story of bamboo,under story of bamboo,

at elevations between 5,000 and at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 feet. 10,000 feet.

Torrential rains or dense mist Torrential rains or dense mist throughout the year throughout the year characterizes these forests, often characterizes these forests, often shrouded in heavy clouds shrouded in heavy clouds

Niche/Food HabitsNiche/Food Habits A wild Giant Panda’s diet is A wild Giant Panda’s diet is

almost exclusively (99%) almost exclusively (99%) bamboo. bamboo.

May eat other grasses and May eat other grasses and occasional small rodents or occasional small rodents or musk deer fawns. musk deer fawns.

Interesting Physical Interesting Physical TraitsTraits

Giant Pandas are about the size Giant Pandas are about the size of a stick of butter when bornof a stick of butter when born

They are able to grasp bamboo They are able to grasp bamboo stems with the help of a "pseudo stems with the help of a "pseudo thumb," formed by an elongated thumb," formed by an elongated and enlarged wrist bone covered and enlarged wrist bone covered with a fleshy pad of skinwith a fleshy pad of skin

StatusStatus

The Giant Panda is listed as The Giant Panda is listed as endangered. There are about endangered. There are about 1,600 left in the wild. 1,600 left in the wild.

Nearly 300 Pandas live in zoos Nearly 300 Pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the and breeding centers around the world, mostly in China.world, mostly in China.

The WWF is currently working The WWF is currently working with the Chinese government:with the Chinese government: to create reserves for the to create reserves for the

PandasPandas making it easier for humans and making it easier for humans and

Pandas to coexistPandas to coexist

Interesting behaviorInteresting behavior

Giant Pandas are the only bears that do not hibernate during the winter.Giant Pandas are the only bears that do not hibernate during the winter. When Pandas mark there territories they do a hand stand and whoever When Pandas mark there territories they do a hand stand and whoever

marks the highest wins.marks the highest wins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZjlVUG_APs

ReferencesReferences

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/PandaFacts/default.cfm http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/PandaFacts/default.cfm http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/giant-panda/ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/giant-panda/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZjlVUG_APshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZjlVUG_APs http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/ http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/