Science explains why the panda bear is black and white and has the peculiar eye spots

There are animals that seem to have a superpower to make us melt with such tenderness. With a dense and striking white fur, but with black paws, ears and dark circles, the panda is one of those examples of cuteness. Its exoticism has made it the most endangered bear species in the world and also one of the most interesting. Strange as it may seem, the adaptive functions of the giant panda’s appearance are still mysterious.

If you’ve ever wondered why the panda is the only type of black and white bear, the awesome.club prepared this post that gives a possible scientific answer to a question many people have.

The so-called giant panda bear is the subspecies that has a black and white coat. The ears, nose, fur around the eyes, shoulders, and paws are black, while the face, belly, and back are white. Its fur has caught the attention of scientists, who recognize such a contrasting pattern as a proven rare case among mammals. Therefore, a study published in the journal Behavioral Ecology analyzed the color of the panda bear through photographs of 195 species of terrestrial carnivores and 39 ursid subspecies, identified in books with their scientific name and location.

The study did not find a significant relationship between average annual temperatures in the regions of carnivorous pandas (although they are vegetarians, their digestive system is that of a carnivorous animal) and coat color in any area of ​​their bodies during the summer. However, when the analysis was done in winter, it was found that the coat was significantly lighter at low temperatures (and therefore significantly darker at high temperatures) on certain areas of the body, such as the back and shoulders.

The idea that giant pandas use camouflage is not supported by the data on their carnivorous side. However, eye marks have been found to be slightly darker in more diurnal carnivores. This may suggest that the darker regions of the animal’s face are related to communication. The comparative study also indicated that contrasting facial features could indicate ferocity, and giant pandas could be truculent, as their black ears may be a signal to predators.

The results of the study suggest that the giant panda has developed a coat that allows it to camouflage in different environments and that, in addition, its facial features are useful for communication, whether with members of the same species or with others. However, its double coloration has also been found to come from its poor nutritional bamboo diet and inability to digest plant material efficiently. This keeps the animal active all year round, as it cannot establish enough fat reserves to hibernate. As it finds itself under various lighting conditions over the course of a year, so for camouflage, its white parts are suitable for a snowy environment and its black parts for a dark forest.

Of course, the study was based on human observation, so the research supports can still be improved. The truth is that the giant panda is still a species with many unresolved issues in the carnivore and herbivore chain.

Do you believe this research could be right? How do you think the panda would look without its particular color pattern? Write to us in the comments