Ailurus fulgens
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English: Lesser panda, Red panda
German: Katzenbar„r
French: Petit pande
Spanish: Panda
Distribution areas
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The lesser panda lives in East Asia, in
the area between Nepal and the South East
Himalayas, at altitudes of 2000 to 4000 m
above sea level. Another species, the grand
panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is found in
the forests of east Tibet.
The cuticular structure
Description of the fur of the fine fibres, 1000x
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The skins are about 50 - 80 cm long and the tail is about 30 - 50 cm long.
The hair coat is dense and soft and consists of a thick layer of hairs fibres
with the guard hairs 40 mm and even more in length. The back is brown-red in
colour with yellow-tipped hairs, while the belly and legs are black. The tail
is thick and the undercoat layer is not distinguishable by its colour.
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Ailurus fulgens
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English: Lesser panda, Red panda
German: Katzenbar„r
French: Petit pande
Spanish: Panda
Structure of the hair
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The fine fur fibres are circular in
cross-section with a diameter measuring
from 18 to 25 µm. The cuticular scales are
wavelike with a smooth surface and straight
scale margins. The medulla is wide,
unbroken and central symmetrical-shaped in
cross-section. The overall structure of the The cuticular structure
medulla is of the loose, uniserial ladder of the fine fibres, 2000x
type with a granular infilling substance.
The intermediate fibres are circular or elliptic in outline. The diameter
is from 30 to 65 µm. The cuticular scales are even, tile-like or rounded,
tile-like in shape. The scale surface is irregularly grooved and the scale
margins are straight. The medullary structure is of the uniserial ladder type
with and amorphous or granular infilling substance.
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Ailurus fulgens
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English: Lesser panda, Red panda
German: Katzenbar„r
French: Petit pande
Spanish: Panda
The guard hairs are elliptic in
cross-section. The average diameter is from
70 to 105 µm. The scales of the cuticle are
crenated, tile-like with a smooth scale
surface and rippled scale margins. The
medulla is narrow, unbroken and central
symmetrical-shaped in cross-section. The
overall medullary pattern is of the lattice
type with a sheet-like infilling substance. The cuticular structure
of an intermediate hair, 2000x
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Ailurus fulgens
---------------
English: Lesser panda, Red panda
German: Katzenbar„r
French: Petit pande
Spanish: Panda
Longitudinal section
of an intermediate fibre, 2000x
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Ailurus fulgens
---------------
English: Lesser panda, Red panda
German: Katzenbar„r
French: Petit pande
Spanish: Panda
Longitudinal section
of a guard hair, 600x
Numerical code for lesser panda skin structure
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Surface of the skin: 3-4-3
Fine fur fibres: 1-7-1-1-2-1-1-2-6-18.25-8.21
Intermediate fibres: 1.2-2.3-3-1-2-1-1-1-6.8-25.65-20.35
Guard hairs: 2-4-1-2-3-1-1-8-1-70.105-30.45
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