The history of panda bears is quite unclear. Its earliest known ancestor is the Kretzoiarctos beatrix, which was found in Zaragoza, Spain. This claim does not have all the evidence to back it up, as scientists have only found its teeth. Until more evidence shows, we can not conclude accurately how the pandas adapted into the modern panda. A possible explanation is that the weather lowered in Spain, causing the plants that they feed on to die away. The pandas would have to migrate to a different area such as Asia. A trek like this would need good weather conditions for the pandas to complete the journey.
The Kretzoiarctos beatrix shares some similarities with the giant panda. One example is that they both are omnivores. Their diet was probably different, because bamboo would not be as abundant in Spain than in China. Both climb up trees to get away from their predators. Another speculation could be that it had black and white spots just like the giant panda. The Kretzoiarctos beatrix weighed less and was smaller than the giant panda. It is also the extinct genus of European bear and can be specified even further to the panda lineage. The Kretzoiarctos beatrix is the oldest ancestor of the panda, as it is 11 million years old. Not much more information can be given due to the lack of remains of this species. No other Kretzoiarctos beatrix was found outside of Europe, which sends some doubt of it really being a panda ancestor. It was named after the paleontologist Mike Kretzoi, who has found other panda ancestors.
The Kretzoiarctos beatrix shares some similarities with the giant panda. One example is that they both are omnivores. Their diet was probably different, because bamboo would not be as abundant in Spain than in China. Both climb up trees to get away from their predators. Another speculation could be that it had black and white spots just like the giant panda. The Kretzoiarctos beatrix weighed less and was smaller than the giant panda. It is also the extinct genus of European bear and can be specified even further to the panda lineage. The Kretzoiarctos beatrix is the oldest ancestor of the panda, as it is 11 million years old. Not much more information can be given due to the lack of remains of this species. No other Kretzoiarctos beatrix was found outside of Europe, which sends some doubt of it really being a panda ancestor. It was named after the paleontologist Mike Kretzoi, who has found other panda ancestors.
Giant pandas are a symbol of peace to China. Understandably so, many peoples' opinions on pandas are 'cute.' In the wild, pandas mostly live in small mountain regions in central China, most notably the Minshan and the Qinling Mountains. These regions are quite separated, which is bad for the pandas' survival. Their predators are jackals, leopards, yellow-throated marten, and most importantly, the human. The pandas can defend themselves with their hulking bodies and can run away from predators by means of climbing or swimming. The humans, however, are superior to the pandas. We are their biggest threat and, ironically, their biggest friends.
A panda is classified as a bear due to genetics testing and observation which showed that its DNA matched that of a bear, although it is a very weird bear. It possesses the same digestive system of a carnivore but have adapted to a vegetarian diet, which consists of 99% bamboo, with the rest being other plants and meat. This makes the panda very dependent on bamboo. Pandas have a black and white coat. Read a Tibetan folklore tale on how pandas got their color.
A panda is classified as a bear due to genetics testing and observation which showed that its DNA matched that of a bear, although it is a very weird bear. It possesses the same digestive system of a carnivore but have adapted to a vegetarian diet, which consists of 99% bamboo, with the rest being other plants and meat. This makes the panda very dependent on bamboo. Pandas have a black and white coat. Read a Tibetan folklore tale on how pandas got their color.
Giant pandas are about 150cm long from nose to rump. Their average life span is 14-20 years and large adult pandas weigh about 100-150kg. A giant panda does not reproduce that often. To compensate, the panda often uses a strategy, which is to give birth to twins. This doubles the chance of giving birth to a strong, successful cub. The mother's cubs are dependent on their mother to protect them from predators for the first few months of their lives. There are about 1600 pandas left in the wild, which urges humans to take action. Humans are doing their best to save the endangered panda bear from extinction.
The behavior of the panda bear is different from other bears. For example, a panda does not 'roar' like other bears, but 'bleat' like goats. Pandas lead a low-stress lifestyle due to their low-energy diet. Because of this they avoid confrontation, unlike other bears. They eat for up to 14 hours per day and prefer to eat tender stems and shoots because they are richer in nutrition. Pandas love to play, run from danger, and do not live together. They communicate mostly by scent markers on their territory. When a panda finds another panda then it will sometimes communicate with sound.
A panda's skeletal structure is similar to a bear's but it is thicker and smaller. Its jaw and teeth structure is designed as a typical carnivore's structure. Over time, the pandas have adapted their teeth structure to handle their bamboo diet. They have broad, flat molar teeth to help them eat bamboo. In image B the panda's thumb is actually and enlarged wrist bone which serves as a substitute for a human thumb.
The behavior of the panda bear is different from other bears. For example, a panda does not 'roar' like other bears, but 'bleat' like goats. Pandas lead a low-stress lifestyle due to their low-energy diet. Because of this they avoid confrontation, unlike other bears. They eat for up to 14 hours per day and prefer to eat tender stems and shoots because they are richer in nutrition. Pandas love to play, run from danger, and do not live together. They communicate mostly by scent markers on their territory. When a panda finds another panda then it will sometimes communicate with sound.
A panda's skeletal structure is similar to a bear's but it is thicker and smaller. Its jaw and teeth structure is designed as a typical carnivore's structure. Over time, the pandas have adapted their teeth structure to handle their bamboo diet. They have broad, flat molar teeth to help them eat bamboo. In image B the panda's thumb is actually and enlarged wrist bone which serves as a substitute for a human thumb.
Speciation
We predict that the pandas will become more marine-like creatures by growing webbed feet. This feature would help them swim better and longer. To do this it must go through all three steps of speciation.
Separation
One way the populations could be separated is that a shortage of bamboo occurs. This would make the life of pandas more difficult and cause some of them to migrate east near the ocean. Another way this could happen is that a storm carries away some of the pandas to an island, forcing them to adapt. This storm could also wipe out some of the bamboo.
Adaptation
In response to this, the panda start growing webbed feet. This feature will help them swim longer and swifter. This will be a great advantage when catching prey. The pandas will adapt to a different diet. Bamboo does not grow on these islands, making the pandas including more meat into their diets such as fish. Another reason is that they will need to escape from predators like the shark. They can still walk on land and these new species will probably be black and white, due to the fact that most pandas and their ancestors were black and white. These pandas which are called pandish, will not be as isolated. They could go to different islands, but they will adapt to live closer to each other. Another adaptation is that they will no longer need their broad, flat teeth to crunch bamboo due to its new diet. Their new diet also affect their dining habits which would decrease. Their webbed feet would make them not climb trees, and they would need to communicate more often to save themselves from predators.
Division
Some of the pandish could swim and then walk to the home of their ancestors. The Pacific Ocean could also disappear somehow, making it easier to go to the bamboo forest. Assuming that the giant pandas in the wild would still survive, they would not be able to interbreed. This would mean that the pandish would be a new species. The process of speciation is complete.
We predict that the pandas will become more marine-like creatures by growing webbed feet. This feature would help them swim better and longer. To do this it must go through all three steps of speciation.
Separation
One way the populations could be separated is that a shortage of bamboo occurs. This would make the life of pandas more difficult and cause some of them to migrate east near the ocean. Another way this could happen is that a storm carries away some of the pandas to an island, forcing them to adapt. This storm could also wipe out some of the bamboo.
Adaptation
In response to this, the panda start growing webbed feet. This feature will help them swim longer and swifter. This will be a great advantage when catching prey. The pandas will adapt to a different diet. Bamboo does not grow on these islands, making the pandas including more meat into their diets such as fish. Another reason is that they will need to escape from predators like the shark. They can still walk on land and these new species will probably be black and white, due to the fact that most pandas and their ancestors were black and white. These pandas which are called pandish, will not be as isolated. They could go to different islands, but they will adapt to live closer to each other. Another adaptation is that they will no longer need their broad, flat teeth to crunch bamboo due to its new diet. Their new diet also affect their dining habits which would decrease. Their webbed feet would make them not climb trees, and they would need to communicate more often to save themselves from predators.
Division
Some of the pandish could swim and then walk to the home of their ancestors. The Pacific Ocean could also disappear somehow, making it easier to go to the bamboo forest. Assuming that the giant pandas in the wild would still survive, they would not be able to interbreed. This would mean that the pandish would be a new species. The process of speciation is complete.
WORKS CITED
In CSE format
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Anon. Giant Pandas Behavior. Giant Panda Behavior and Low-Stress Lifestyle [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://www.chinahighlights.com/giant-panda/behavior.htm
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Prostak S. New Fossil Sheds More Light on Oldest Known Ancestor of Giant Panda. Breaking Science News SciNewscom [Internet]. 2012 Nov 15 [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/article00724.html
Anon. Giant Panda. Giant Panda [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://gianpanda.weebly.com/
Anon. Giant panda. WWF [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/
Anon. Giant Pandas Behavior. Giant Panda Behavior and Low-Stress Lifestyle [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://www.chinahighlights.com/giant-panda/behavior.htm
Anon. Kretzoiarctos gen nov, the Oldest Member of the Giant Panda Clade. PLOS ONE [Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0048985
Cataldi B. Giant Panda Bear. Giant Panda Bear [Internet]. 2014 Apr 22 [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: https://thegiantpanda.wordpress.com/
Dell'Amore C. Oldest Giant Panda Relative Found in Spain. National Geographic [Internet]. 2012 Dec 4 [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/12/121204-giant-panda-cousin-bear-animals-spain/
Prostak S. New Fossil Sheds More Light on Oldest Known Ancestor of Giant Panda. Breaking Science News SciNewscom [Internet]. 2012 Nov 15 [cited 2015 Jan 20]. Available from: http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/article00724.html