| Ailuropoda wulingshanensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Ursidae |
| Genus: | Ailuropoda |
| Species: | A. wulingshanensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ailuropoda wulingshanensis (Wang et al., 1982) | |
Ailuropoda wulingshanensis is an extinct species of panda that existed during the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene.
Ailuropoda wulingshanensis is known only from South China. It is best represented at Longgu Cave in Jianshi, Hubei, [1] and its fossils have also been recovered from Bailong Cave. [2] The species existed during the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene. [1]
Ailuropoda wulingshanensis is distinguished from Ailuropoda microta by its larger size and more complex cuspation of premolars, and from Ailuropoda baconi by its smaller size and less developed premolar cuspation. These three taxa did not coexist, suggesting a potential succession of chronospecies, increasing in size from Ailuropoda microta to Ailuropoda wulingshanensis to Ailuropoda baconi, before declining to Ailuropoda melanoleuca. Alternatively, Ailuropoda microta and Ailuropoda wulingshanensis may represent nominal taxa reflecting dental variation in the giant panda lineage during the late Pliocene to earliest Pleistocene in southeastern China, despite uncertain dating. [1]