Ecology

Red Pandas Niche

Red pandas live in the temperate forest ecosystem of the Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest. They have many interactions within their ecosystem. They dramatically affect the trophic levels. Red pandas are secondary consumers meaning that they will eat some primary consumers like insects. Their main source of food is bamboo; they help control the bamboo populations within their ecosystem. They also are prey for many tertiary consumers like the endangered snow leopard.

Plants Found in the Red Pandas Habitat

Yellow Groove Bamboo

Phyllostachys aureosulcata

Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Phyllostachys

This bamboo grows in areas ranging from subtropical to warm temperate and tolerates low winter temperatures better than most bamboos. The yellow groove bamboo grows to 9 meters tall with a culm diameter of 4 centimeters. The typical form of this species has dark green culms with a yellow groove. It is not threatened.

Butterfly Pea

Clitoria mariana L.

Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Class: Magnolipsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Clitoria

The butterfly pea is a large wildflower with 1-3 corolla that are 2 inches long. It has the characteristic banner, wing, and keel floral structure of the pea family. It is native to equatorial Asia and is not threatened.

Fungi Found in the Red Pandas Habitat

Cordyceps

Cordyceps militaris

Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Class: Sordariomycetes Order: Hypocreales Family: Cordycipitaceae Genus: Cordyceps

Cordyceps are an edible fungi that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are found in most of Asia. They are not threatened.

Morel Mushrooms

Morchella esculenta

Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Class: Pezizomycetes Order: Pezizales Family: Morchellaaceae Genus: Morchella

This edible fungi has a distinctive honeycomb look. It is found in almost all of Asia. It is not threatened.

Mammals Found in the Red Pandas Habitat

Asiatic Black Bear

Ursus thibetanus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ursus

The Asiatic black bear lives in southern and eastern Asia. They are mainly black with a yellow/white "crescent moon" on their chest. They are considered vulnerable in the wild.

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22824/166528664

Takin

Budorcas taxicolor

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Budorcas

The takin is a large species of ungulate that lives in the eastern Himalayas. They are about 45 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh anywhere from 550 to 770 pounds. They are considered vulnerable in the wild.

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3160/9643719

Birds Found in the Red Pandas Habitat

Golden Pheasant

Chrysolophus pictus

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galiformes Family: Phasianidae Genus: Chrysolophus

This tetrapod is native to western and central China. The golden pheasant is a hardy gamebird that is small compared to other pheasants. It is not threatened.

https://animalcorner.org/animals/golden-pheasant/

Temminck's Tragopan

Tragopan temminckii

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galiformes Family: Phasianidae Genus: Tragopan

The Temminck's tragopan is another small pheasant. They can be found throughout China, India, Myanmar and Vietnam. It is not threatened.

Invertebrates Found in the Red Pandas Habitat

Peacock Pansy

Junonia almana

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Genus: Junonia

This butterfly has bilateral symmetry and lives in south Asia. The adult wingspan is 2.1-2.4 inches. It is not threatened.

Asian Lady Beetle

Harmonia axyridis

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Coccinellidae Genus: Harmonia

The Asian lady beetle is found all over Asia. Sometimes red pandas will eat them. It is not threatened.

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