Giant Panda Characteristics

Giant pandas are black-and-white Chinese bears that are on the verge of extinction. These large, cuddly-looking mammals have a big head, a heavy body, rounded ears, and a short tail.

This bear is quite different from other bears. It has unusual cat-like eyes, and its front paws have an opposable "thumb."

Most bears' eyes have round pupils. The exception is the giant panda, whose pupils are vertical slits, like cats' eyes. These unusual eyes inspired the Chinese to call the panda the "giant cat bear." Pandas have very good eyesight. Would you like to see a diagram of a giant pandas head? Click here.

Go Back to the main page.

All information retrieved from:  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/panda/index.shtml