Ailurus fulgens

SUBFAMILY

Ailurinae

TAXONOMY

Ailurus fulgens F. G. Cuvier, 1825, East Indies.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Lesser panda; French: Petit panda; German: Kleiner Panda, Katzenbär; Spanish: Panda rojo.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Body length 20–24 in (50–60 cm), tail 12–20 in (30–50 cm), mass 6.5–11 lb (3–5 kg). Overall pelage reddish, with well furred and banded tail. Large round ears with white fringe, two black stripes from the eyes down on the cheeks.

DISTRIBUTION

Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and south central China, possibly also in Tibet and Assam.

HABITAT

Occupies bamboo forests.

BEHAVIOR

Mostly nocturnal. Capable climber but forages mostly on the ground. Red pandas are territorial, and territorial boundaries are

scent marked. Territories occupy 0.4–1.5 mi² (1–3.5 km²). Density is roughly one animal/mi² (0.4/km²).

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Bamboo sprouts, grasses, roots, fruits, acorns, and rarely animal prey.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Promiscuous. Mating occurs in July and August. Gestation lasts 134 days, litter size is one to four.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Endangered.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Red pandas are not harvested for their fur or meat, and are popular zoo animals. They are threatened by deforestation and increased agriculture.

Common name / Scientific name / Other common names	Physical characteristics	Habitat and behavior	Distribution	Diet	Conservation status
Crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus Spanish: Mapache cangrejero	Upperparts are brown or grayish in color. Underparts are lighter. Mask of black on eyes and rings on tail. Very short hair, large. Head and body length 21.7–29.9 in (55–76 cm), tail length 3.9–5.9 in (10–15 in).	Marshy and jungle areas of Central and South America. Solitary animal, active during evening and at night.	Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.	Frogs, toads, crabs, shrimp, turtle eggs, fruits, and seeds.	Not listed by IUCN
Bahaman raccoon Procyon maynardi Spanish: Mapache de las Bahamas	Coloration is gray to black, 5 to 10 rings on well-furred tail. Head and body length 16.3– 23.6 in (41.5–60 cm), tail length 7.9–15.9 in (20–40.5 cm). Males generally larger than females.	Timbered and brushy areas, usually near water. More nocturnal than diurnal. Build dens for shelter and do not hibernate.	New Providence Island, Bahamas.	Crayfish, crabs, other arthropods, frogs, fish nuts, seeds, acorns, and berries.	Endangered
Cozumel Island raccoon Procyon pygmaeus Spanish: Mapache pigmeo	Coloration is gray to black, 5 to 10 rings on well-furred tail. Head and body length 16.3– 23.6 in (41.5–60 cm), tail length 7.9–15.9 in (20–40.5 cm). Males generally larger than females.	Timbered and brushy areas, usually near water. More nocturnal than diurnal. Build dens for shelter and do not hibernate.	Cozumel Island off north-eastern Yucatán, Mexico.	Crayfish, crabs, other arthropods, frogs, fish nuts, seeds, acorns, and berries.	Endangered

Common name / Scientific name / Other common names	Physical characteristics	Habitat and behavior	Distribution	Diet	Conservation status
Guadeloupe raccoon Procyon minor Spanish: Mapache de Guadalupe	Coloration is gray to black, 5 to 10 rings on well-furred tail. Head and body length 16.3–23.6 in (41.5–60 cm), tail length 7.9–15.9 in (20–40.5 cm). Males generally larger than females.	Timbered and brushy areas, usually near water. More nocturnal than diurnal. Build dens for shelter and do not hibernate.	Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles.	Crayfish, crabs, other arthropods, frogs, fish, nuts, seeds, acorns, and berries.	Endangered
Cozumel Island coati Nasua nelsoni	Short, fairly soft hair. Coloration is generally reddish brown to black. Muzzle, chin, and throat whitish and feet blackish. Striped tail. Head and body length 16.1–23.4 in (41–67 cm), tail length 12.6–27.2 in (32–69 cm).	Mainly in wooded areas. Use tail as balancing organ, primarily diurnal. Loose band of to 20 individuals. Single reproductive season.	Cozumel Island off north-eastern Yucatán, Mexico.	Fruits, other plant matter, large rodents.	Endangered
Ring-tailed coati Nasua nasua Spanish: Coatí isleño	Tawny red with black face; a small white spot above and below each eye and a large one on each cheek; white throat, belly; black feet, black rings on tail. Head and body length 31.5–51.2 in (80–130 cm).	Mainly in wooded areas. Use tail as balancing organ, primarily diurnal. Loose band of 4 to 20 individuals. Single reproductive season.	Arizona, United States, to Argentina.	Fruits, other plant matter, large rodents.	Not threatened
Cacomistle Bassariscus sumichrasti French: Bassarai rusé; Spanish: Babisuri	Color is buffy gray to brownish, tail is ringed with buff and black. Ears are pointed, tail is long. Head and body length 15–18.5 in (38–47 cm), tail length 15.4–20.9 in (39–53 cm).	Tropical forests and is very arboreal. Enters estrus in winter, spring, or summer. Late winter is main breeding season.	Southern Mexico to western Panama.	Insects, rodents, birds, fruits, and other vegetable matter.	Lower Risk/Near Threatened
Allen's olingo Bassaricyon alleni Spanish: Olingo leonado	Upperparts are pinkish buff to golden, mixed with black or grayish. Underparts are pale yellowish. Tail is flat and body is elongate. Head and body length 13.8–18.5 in (35–47 cm), tail length 15.7–18.9 in (40–48 cm).	Tropical forests from sea level to 6,560 ft (2,000 m). Primarily aboreal and nocturnal. There is no definite breeding season. Females give birth to one off-spring per year.	Ecuador east of the Andes, and Peru to Cuzco Province; Bolivia; and possibly into Venezuela.	Mainly fruit, but also insects and warm-blooded animals.	Not threatened
Beddard's olingo Bassaricyon beddardi Spanish: Olingo de Guayana	Upperparts are pinkish buff to golden, mixed with black or grayish. Underparts are pale yellowish. Tail is flat and body is elongate. Head and body length 13.8–18.5 in (35–47 cm), tail length 15.7–18.9 in (40–48 cm).	Tropical forests from sea level to 6,560 ft (2,000 m). Primarily aboreal and nocturnal. There is no definite breeding season. Females give birth to one off-spring per year.	Guyana, and possibly adjacent Venezuela and Brazil.	Mainly fruit, but also insects and warm-blooded animals.	Lower Risk/Near Threatened
Olingo Bassaricyon gabbii Spanish: Olingo grisáceo	Coloration is light brown with cream under-sides and neck. Tail has 11–13 dark brown rings. Long muzzle and no prehensile tail. Head and body length 14–16 in (35.6–40.6 cm), tail length 15–19 in (38.1–48.3 cm).	Rainforests of Central America and northwestern South America, at elevations from sea level to 6,560 ft (2,000 m). Arboreal, nocturnal, and solitary. There is no particular breeding season. Females give birth to one offspring per year.	Central Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, western Colombia, and western Ecuador.	Mostly fruits, nectar, insects, small mammals, and birds.	Lower Risk/Near Threatened
Harris's olingo Bassaricyon lasius Spanish: Olingo costarricense	Upperparts are pinkish buff to golden, mixed with black or grayish. Underparts are pale yellowish. Tail is flat and body is elongate. Head and body length 13.8–18.5 in (35–47 cm), tail length 15.7–18.9 in (40–48 cm).	Tropical forests from sea level to 6,560 ft (2,000 m). Primarily arboreal and nocturnal. Spends day in nest. Lives alone or in pairs.	Known only from type locality: 6–8 mi (9.7–12.9 km) south of Cartago, Costa Rica, near the source of the Rio Estrella, at an altitude of about 4,500 ft (1,370 m).	Mainly fruit, but also insects and warm-blooded animals.	Endangered