Scientists in China studied the genetics of multiple pandas in the wild and in captivity to understand why some pandas have a brown. A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers in Beijing, China has uncovered the cause of rare giant pandas that are born with brown fur - and the reason is down to genetics, not inbreeding. With its striking coloration, the giant panda is an instantly recognizable species.
A handful of giant pandas that aren't black-and-white, however, do exist. These majestic creatures with brown. With its trademark patches of black and white fur, there's no mistaking the giant panda for any other bear.
Now scientists have a better idea of why pandas have this distinctive pattern, and it could all come down to the lengths the poor old animal has to go to just to get enough to eat. When compared with black and white panda families, the brown pandas have two copies of the shortened Bace2 gene sequence, causing a disruption in the protein that would normally make their fur a striking ebony. They are very easy to spot in a zoo enclosure, and are instantly recognisable by their distinctive black and white fur.
But for years, scientists have tried to work out why the giant panda has. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an iconic mammal, but the function of its black. The black and white markings provide highly effective camouflage in a panda's natural habitat.
Tim Caro, Author provided (no reuse) Next, we examined a second form of camouflage. The giant panda's distinctive black and white coloring has long fascinated researchers and panda enthusiasts alike. But why did pandas evolve to have this unique coloration pattern? In this in-depth article, we'll explore the leading theories behind the evolutionary origins of the panda's black and white fur.
Theories on panda coloration There are several main theories that aim to. (CNN) - With its striking coloration, the giant panda is an instantly recognizable species. A handful of giant pandas that aren't black-and-white, however, do exist.