ailurid

Ailuridae, commonly known as the giant panda family, is a family of mammals belonging to the order Carnivora. The family consists of two genera, Ailuropoda and Melanoparda, with the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) being the most well-known species. The giant panda is native to south-central China and is characterized by its distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. The family is also known for its unique diet, which primarily consists of bamboo, although they may also consume small amounts of other plants, insects, and even meat.

The giant panda is an iconic symbol of conservation and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as human-panda conflict. The family Ailuridae is part of the superfamily Musteloidea, which includes other carnivorous mammals such as weasels, badgers, and otters. The family is further divided into two subfamilies, Ailurinae and Melanopardinae, with the giant panda belonging to the former. The giant panda is also known for its unique reproductive biology, with females typically giving birth to twins after a gestation period of around 150 days. The family Ailuridae is an important subject of study in the fields of conservation biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology.