A Giant panda is found only in the mountain forests of several western provinces of China (Sichuan, Gansu, Tibet). Previously, it also lived in mountain bamboo forests in Indochina and on the island of Kalimantan. The total area covers 29500 km2, but only 5,900 km2 is the panda habitat.
The panda’s body is massive, covered with thick fur. The legs are short, thick, with broad paws armed with strong claws. On the soles and at the base of each finger, naked pads are well developed, facilitating the retention of smooth stems of bamboo during meals.
Its rounded, hairy in the lower part of the foot are short and do not completely rest on the ground when walking. The head of a large panda is massive, stupid, with large ears. From bears panda is distinguished by a rather long (12 cm) tail and the structure of teeth.
Of 40 teeth at the top there are four false-root ones and two real molars, and below – three false-root ones and three real molars. The molar teeth and premolars are wider and flatter than other bears and they have developed extensive knolls and protrusions to grind hard bamboo during eating.
With an external resemblance to a bear, the anatomy of a large panda is so unusual that the panda was placed in the raccoon family, then into the bear family, then into its own particular family.
