Is the Red Panda actually a bear? It looks almost more like a raccoon or otter.?

Question

Their tails are beautiful; but they don't look bear-like such as the giant pandas do. They appear to have more in common with raccoons. Am I correct in assuming this?

Answer 1

They're so cute, aren't they!

They're not at all related to giant pandas. I think they are more closely related to raccoons.

Answer 2

I just Google it and the one picture, standing up they are very Bear like! It's the ring tail that throws you! The part is played by Dustin Hoffman :) in Kung Fu Panda.

Answer 3

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is not a bear. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), however, IS a bear. This has caused much confusion over the years. It was once thought that the red panda and giant panda were closely related, hence the common names, but it is now known that they are not close relatives. The giant panda belongs to the family Ursidae (bear family), but diverged early in its evolutionary history from other bears, hence its being placed in its own genus, Ailuropoda.

The classification of the red panda is more problematic. It is usually placed in the raccoon family, Procyonidae, but some scientists suggest it should be placed in its own family, the Ailuridae.

Answer 4

I know this is off the subject of your question of the red panda (which I think is more closely related to raccoons but cannot be positive), but I had to mention this endless battle between giant pandas being bears or marsupials.

I must admit I originally thought pandas were marsupials due to the very small size of the cub at birth.  But through much searching of the internet I found very few sites that said they were marsupials, and those that I did find all had many people arguing against this point.  I finally found an article from a newspaper online that I felt really cleared up the situation.  Here it is for anyone who wants to read it. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...

I will now say the panda is a bear.

Answer 5

No Panda is a bear, just like the Koala bear but they are mammals giving birth to their young. They are not , however from the raccoon or otter family.

Answer 6

yes they are members of the same family as racoons-procyonids  (Otters are in a different family-they are mustilids)

Answer 7

No, it is not a member of the bear family. Classification of this beautifully marked and coloured animal has been the subject of debate for many years. Similarities in appearance or name etc. (even striking ones) do not necessarily point to genetic or anatomical symmetry nor divergence from a seemingly common ancestor. Although widely placed within the same family as the raccoon - Procyonidae (because of similarities in teeth, skull, ringed tail, and other morphological characteristics rather than scientific analysis) modern and very recent molecular systematics research has shown that the genetic differences are sufficient that the Red Panda has now been placed in its very own family - Ailuridae. Certainly in appearance they resemble the Raccoon but I think they are more pleasant to look at. The Giant Panda is very bear-like and indeed belongs to the bear family - Ursidae.

AUSSIE PAUL is confused, the Giant Panda IS a bear. It is called a Koala, not Koala 'bear' although outside of Australia this is commonly but incorrectly the case. I point this out for the benifit of you, Paul and anyone else, NOT to correct him in a derogatory way.

Answer 8

Yes they look more like raccons.  No, they are not a bear.

http://zipcodezoo.com/key/ailuridae_fami...

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsiaTr...

http://www.animalinfo.org/species/carniv...

http://www.zoo.org/factsheets/red_panda/...