Ailuridae, from Greek αἴλουρος (ailouros, “cat”), in reference to the fact that all the members of this family are cat-shaped animals.

Common names of members

Red pandas.

Distribution  

Asia: China, Myanmar, Nepal, India and Tibet.

Size

Its length from head to body measures 51–63.5 cm, while its tail measures 28–48.5 cm. Its weight ranges from 3.2 to 15 kg.

Morphology

Their coat is mainly red or orange-brown with a black belly and legs. The muzzle, cheeks, brows and inner ear margins are mostly white while the bushy tail has red and buff ring patterns and a dark brown tip. The colouration appears to serve as camouflage in habitat with red moss and white lichen-covered trees. The guard hairs are longer and rougher while the dense undercoat is fluffier with shorter hairs. The guard hairs on the back have a circular cross-section and are 47–56 mm long. It has moderately long whiskers around the mouth, lower jaw and chin. The hair on the soles of the paws allows the animal to walk in snow. They have a relatively small head, though proportionally larger than in similarly sized raccoons, with a reduced snout and triangular ears, and nearly evenly lengthened limbs.

Habitat & Ecology

Their microhabitat is characterized by steep slopes with lots of bamboo stems, shrubs, fallen logs and stumps in mountainous regions.

Diet

They are largely herbivorous and feed primarily on bamboo, mainly the genera Phyllostachys, Sinarundinaria, Thamnocalamus and Chimonobambusa. They also feed on fruits, blossoms, acorns, eggs, birds and small mammals.

Reproduction 

Red pandas are solitary except for the mating period. They will come down the trees and mate on the ground. Females give birth to the young in late spring when food is most abundant. Mothers will take care of the young for about a year while males are not responsible. 

Species known in Hong Kong

0

Total species known

9

Species in the collection

1

Species in Hong Kong

0

Reference

Glatson A. R. (2011). Red panda: biology and conservation of the first panda. Academic Press.

Wei, F., Feng, Z., Wang, Z., Hu, J. (2000). Habitat Use and Separation between the Giant Panda and the Red Panda. Journal of Mammalogy, 81(2) 448–455. https://doi.org/10.1644/1545-1542(2000)081%3C0448:HUASBT%3E2.0.CO;2.

 Zhang, Z., Wei, F., Li, M., Hu, J. (2006). Winter Microhabitat Separation between Giant and Red Pandas in Bashania faberi Bamboo Forest in Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve. Journal of Wildlife Management, 70(1), 231-235. https://doi.org/10.2193/0022-541X(2006)70[231:WMSBGA]2.0.CO;2. 

Roberts, M. S., Gittleman, J. S. (1984). Ailurus fulgens. Mammalian Species, 222, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.2307/3503840.