Qinling panda/Brown panda | |
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Qi Zai, the only brown panda in captivity, born 2008 | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Ursidae |
Genus: | Ailuropoda |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | A. m. qinlingensis |
Trinomial name | |
Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis Wan, Wu & Fang, 2005 |
The Qinling panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis), also known as the brown panda, is a subspecies of the giant panda, discovered in 1959, [1] but not recognized as a subspecies until 2005. [2] [3] Besides the nominate subspecies, it is the first giant panda subspecies to be recognized.
It differs from the more familiar nominate subspecies by its smaller skull and dark brown and light brown (rather than black and white) fur, and its smaller overall size. [4] Its eye spots are under the lower lid, instead of around the eyes. Brown pandas are exceedingly rare.
Most Qinling pandas are around the same size as a giant pandas, growing to 1.2–1.8 m (3 ft 11 in – 5 ft 11 in) in length and 70–80 cm (28–31 in) at shoulder height. The males of the species are heavier than females, weighing roughly 60–190 kg (130–420 lb) whereas females are likely to weigh 75–125 kg (165–276 lb). [3]
Qinling panda | |||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 秦嶺熊貓 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 秦岭熊猫 | ||||||
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This subspecies is restricted to the Qinling Mountains,at elevations of 1,300–3,000 metres (4,300–9,800 ft). Its coloration is possibly a consequence of inbreeding:as the population is closed off from genetic variation and this might have led to the preservation of the mutation responsible. [2] [4]
There are an estimated 200–300 [5] Qinling pandas living in the wild as of 2023,up from 100 in 2001. [4]
On August 30,1989,a female of this species was captured and brought to the Xi'an Qinling Wildlife Park to be mated with a regular giant panda. This panda's offspring was black-and-white,but reportedly started becoming brownish as it aged. According to other reports she gave birth to three cubs,all of whom died shortly after being born. The mother,named Dan-Dan,died in 2000. [6]
Scientists captured a Brown Panda along with his mother,a black and white panda,in 2009. [7] They called him Qizai. Research signifies that the change in color was a cause of a mutation. There was a missing sequence of DNA in a gene known as Bace2. Bace2 is a gene responsible for pigmentation in organisms. [7] In order to verify their findings were accurate,scientists underwent an experiment testing mice where they utilized CRISPR-Cas9,a gene-editing tool. [8] The team was able to manipulate the sequence of the mice DNA by deleting the mutation causing segment. Researchers reported that the 78 tested mice did have genetic changes in response to the experiment. The melanosomes count decreased,as well as the size of them. [8] The coats of the genetically altered mice also had light-colored coats. [7] Additionally,researchers were able to uncover a preserved tissue sample from Dandan,where they concluded she had the same recessive trait as Qizai. [8]
Due to the Qinling subspecies being restricted in range,it has been exposed to metal intoxicates such as copper,nickel,lead,and zinc that are now present in bamboo and soil as a result of the environmental pollution that is ongoing in China. More specifically,studies have indicated that the Qinling subspecies faces such anthropogenic threats so directly due to the fact that heavy concentrations of metals in bamboo and soil are positively correlated with high elevations,thus the Qinling Mountain Range is increasingly affected. [9]
Dental health is important for the survival of the Qinling Pandas. These pandas have a survival rate of 5–20 years. The reliance on bamboo while having a carnivore digestive system results in energy and nutritional challenges and affects the oral health of these pandas. They feed on bamboo for at least 14 hours a day,which causes their teeth to wear out. [10] The most common dental abnormalities that Qinling Pandas face are dental attrition and fractures. These two abnormalities can impact the survival rate of these pandas. [10]
The scientists then conducted a wider analysis of 192 black-and-white giant pandas to verify the responsible gene as Bace2. The mutation causing the brown coats was only present in two pandas hailing from the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi,not Sichuan province,where the majority of China's giant pandas live.The Qinling panda (Brown Panda) is endangered. In fact,there are only around 100 Qinling pandas still living in the wild. The Qinling is a relative of the giant panda,discovered in the 1960s. It's different from the giant panda even though they are closely related and classified as a subspecies of giant pandas.
Qinling pandas much like their relatives the giant pandas,eat only bamboo species. Qinling pandas consume both species of bamboo that grow in the Qin mountains
The giant panda,also known as the panda bear or simply panda,is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its black-and-white coat and rotund body. The name "giant panda" is used to distinguish it from the distantly related red panda. Adult individuals average 100 to 115 kg,and are typically 1.2 to 1.9 m long. The species is sexually dimorphic,as males are typically 10 to 20% larger. The fur is white,with black patches around the eyes,ears,legs and shoulders. A thumb is visible on the bear's forepaw,which helps in holding bamboo in place for feeding. Giant pandas have adapted larger molars and expanded temporal fossa to meet their dietary requirements.
The giant panda is a bear from the family Ursidae.
The red panda,also known as the lesser panda,is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs,white-lined ears,a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is 51–63.5 cm (20.1–25.0 in) with a 28–48.5 cm (11.0–19.1 in) tail,and it weighs between 3.2 and 15 kg. It is well adapted to climbing due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws.
In anatomy,a sesamoid bone is a bone embedded within a tendon or a muscle. Its name is derived from the Greek word for 'sesame seed',indicating the small size of most sesamoids. Often,these bones form in response to strain,or can be present as a normal variant. The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. Sesamoids act like pulleys,providing a smooth surface for tendons to slide over,increasing the tendon's ability to transmit muscular forces.
Ailuropoda is the only extant genus in the ursid (bear) subfamily Ailuropodinae. It contains one living and three fossil species of panda.
The Qinling or Qin Mountains,formerly known as the Nanshan,are a major east–west mountain range in southern Shaanxi Province,China. The mountains mark the divide between the drainage basins of the Yangtze and Yellow River systems,providing a natural boundary between North and South China and support a huge variety of plant and wildlife,some of which is found nowhere else on earth.
Ailuropodinae is a subfamily of Ursidae that contains only one extant species,the giant panda of China. The fossil record of this group has shown that various species of pandas were more widespread across the Holarctic,with species found in places such as Europe,much of Asia,North America and even Africa. The earliest pandas were not unlike other modern bear species in that they had an omnivorous diet but by around 2.4 million years ago,pandas have evolved to be more herbivorous.
Wolong National Nature Reserve,officially known as Wolong Special Administrative Region,is a national protected area located in Wenchuan County in China.
Dentin dysplasia (DD) is a rare genetic developmental disorder affecting dentine production of the teeth,commonly exhibiting an autosomal dominant inheritance that causes malformation of the root. It affects both primary and permanent dentitions in approximately 1 in every 100,000 patients. It is characterized by the presence of normal enamel but atypical dentin with abnormal pulpal morphology. Witkop in 1972 classified DD into two types which are Type I (DD-1) is the radicular type,and type II (DD-2) is the coronal type. DD-1 has been further divided into 4 different subtypes (DD-1a,1b,1c,1d) based on the radiographic features.
Changqing National Nature Reserve is located near Huayang Village in the Qin Mountains of Shaanxi province of China.
The golden snub-nosed monkey is an Old World monkey in the subfamily Colobinae. It is endemic to a small area in temperate,mountainous forests of central and Southwest China. They inhabit these mountainous forests of Southwestern China at elevations of 1,500–3,400 m (4,900–11,200 ft) above sea level. The Chinese name is Sichuan golden hair monkey (四川金丝猴). It is also widely referred to as the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey. Of the three species of snub-nosed monkeys in China,the golden snub-nosed monkey is the most widely distributed throughout China.
Ailurarctos is an extinct genus of panda from the Late Miocene of China,some 8 million years ago.
The golden takin is a threatened subspecies of takin,native to the Qin Mountains in the south of China's Shaanxi province. There are four distinct subspecies of the Takin:Mishmi Takin,Sichuan Takin,Bhutan Takin/White's Takin,and Golden takin.
Foping Nature Reserve in Shaanxi Province,China,is a nature reserve and national park situated in the Qinling Mountains. The Nature Reserve covers 350 km2 (140 sq mi) and is under the leadership of the Ministry of Forestry. Foping Nature Reserve is girdled by other protected areas:It is bordered in the east by the Long-caoping Forest Farm;in the west it is flanked by the Changqing Nature Reserve;Zhouzhi Nature Reserve,the stronghold of the Golden Monkey,and Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve are situated to the north. The Foping Reserve covers 29,240 hectares of rugged mountain terrain and is home to a stable panda population. Elevations range from 1,080 to 2,094 m with warm summers and cold winters. 950–1,200 mm of rain falls mostly from July to September,with snow at higher elevations. Forested lands dominate the reserve with a mix of conifers and broadleaf deciduous trees.
Er Shun is a female giant panda,born at the Chongqing Zoo.
The giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a bear native to south central China.
Fargesia robusta is a species of clumping bamboo in the family Poaceae,native to Sichuan,China. Typically 3 m (10 ft) but reaching 4.5 m (15 ft),and with a narrow growth form,it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as an ornamental. A number of cultivars are commercially available,including 'Campbell','Pingwu','Wenchuan',and 'Wolong'.
Baylisascaris schroederi is a species of roundworm in the family Ascarididae. It occurs in China and is a parasite of giant pandas. Many wild giant pandas are infected with this parasite.
Giant Panda National Park is a national park of China. It is a large protected area within the Sichuan,Gansu,and Shaanxi provinces of China. Established in 2020,the park is made up of 67 nature reserves and is 27,134 km2 (10,476 sq mi) in size,making it more than three times the size of Yellowstone National Park.