Red panda

Meet red panda—one more extraordinary life to discover.

Discover the expedition atlas

A CLOSER LOOK

A reference overview

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is 51–63.5 cm (20.1–25.0 in) with a 28–48.5 cm (11.0–19.1 in) tail, and it weighs between 3.2 and 15 kg (7.1 and 33.1 lb).

Overview excerpt from Wikipedia contributors · Red panda, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Excerpt may be shortened. Overview retrieved 2026-10-09.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT

The evidence behind this discovery

Source-linked

This overview is attributed to Wikipedia contributors and was retrieved on 2026-10-09. Retrieval is not independent scientific review.

Reference media

The picture has a linked creator and license. Extinct-animal images may show a fossil, specimen or reconstruction; a reconstruction is not a photograph of the living animal.

Scope and uncertainty

Map points represent selected regions, not complete ranges or live sightings. References and identifications can change. A linked source is not an expert certification.

Read our evidence and editorial approach →

LET ONE QUESTION OPEN ANOTHER

Where will this discovery take you?

Another mammals discovery

African bush elephant ↗

Notice similarities, then follow the sources to explore the differences.

FOLLOW A QUESTION

What can a picture tell you? ↗

Use the visual clues to narrow a collection, then compare animals and check their references.

Follow a discovery guide ↗

Saved on this browser.

Return to your museum collection

Red panda

A reference overview

The evidence behind this discovery

Where will this discovery take you?

African bush elephant ↗

What can a picture tell you? ↗

More mammals to discover

African bush elephant

Asian elephant

Lion

Bengal tiger

Leopard

Cheetah