Is the panda related to the raccoon?

Answer 1

A panda is more closely related to bears than raccoons. Scientists studied this for a long time, and DNA confirms that they are part of the bear family. However, the bear family and raccoon family are closely related.

Answer 2

Not if you're referring to the Giant Panda. Giant Pandas are true bears, as molecular studies have shown, and thus share the same family name (though not the same genus name) as other bears including grizzlies, black bears, polar bears and sun bears, namely Ursidae.

The Red Panda, on the other hand, is the only animal alive that is found in the Family Ailuridae. But, this family is a part of the Superfamily Musteloidae, which encompasses both raccoons (Family Procyonidae) and skunks and weasels (Families Mephitidae and Mustelidae, respectively). Thus, it is the Red Panda that is more closely related to the raccoon than the Giant Panda.

Answer 3

"No, they are two separate animals." --This is the correct answer, but I thought I might elaborate on it a little bit. Is the giant panda more like a bear or raccoon? They certainly LOOK bear-ish, but they have a few unusual features that led people to believe they were not a bear. After almost a century of debate, scientists were finally able to test the genes from pandas and determine that they actually are a species of bear. Pandas are the rarest of bears. They are found in a wilderness in China that continues to disappear due to human interference.

Answer 4

Raccoons and pandas belong to entirely different families of mammals. The panda is classified as a bear, the raccoon belongs to the procyonids - raccoon family. Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It includes the raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, olinguitos, ringtails and cacomistles

Answer 5

Yes, because the panda has similar "mask" markings around the eyes. They also stand on their back two legs.

Answer 6

not sure but there was a debate on what pandas were because they showed both bear and racoon likeness.

Answer 7

Some scientist think the panda is a raccoon because of the red panda which is a raccoon. But others think they are bears because of DNA relations

Answer 8

No, pandas and raccoons are in entirely different families.

Answer 9

They are both mammals but not closely related. Raccoons and pandas are from two different families.

Answer 10

Previously the giant panda was considered by many to be related to the raccoon but recent DNA and molecular testing have shown it to be a member of the bearfamily.