Study: Red Panda Is Actually Two Different Species
2020-03-07
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Red pandas are native to the high forests of Asia.
2They are only a little bigger than a house cat and considered to be endangered.
3Scientists reported last month that not all red pandas belong to the same species.
4There are two different species of this animal, not just one, a study found.
5The scientists reported finding major differences in three genetic markers between Chinese red pandas and Himalayan red pandas.
6Scientists identified the markers after studying DNA from 65 of the creatures.
7DNA carries genetic information for the development, growth and reproduction of living things.
8Documenting the existence of two separate species could help guide efforts for protecting red pandas, scientists added.
9Chinese red pandas live in northern Myanmar, as well as southeastern Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China.
10Himalayan red pandas are native to Nepal, India, Bhutan and southern Tibet in China, the researchers said.
11Conservation biologists Yibo Hu and Fuwen Wei led the study.
12Their findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
13"To conserve the genetic uniqueness of the two species, we should avoid their interbreeding in captivity," Hu said.
14"Interbreeding between species may harm the genetic adaptations already established for their local habitat environment."
15Scientists had earlier suggested there were two species of red panda.
16But the new study was the first to provide the genetic information necessary to permit such a judgment.
17International experts estimate a total population of around 10,000 red pandas in the wild.
18The two species differ in coloration and skull shape.
19The Himalayan red panda is the rarer of the two.
20Major threats to red pandas include deforestation and habitat loss.
21While they have similar names, red pandas and giant pandas are not closely related.
22Giant pandas are one of the world's eight bear species.
23Red pandas are sometimes called living fossils because they have no close living relatives.
24They are the only remaining member of their mammalian family.*
25I'm John Russell.
1Red pandas are native to the high forests of Asia. They are only a little bigger than a house cat and considered to be endangered. 2Scientists reported last month that not all red pandas belong to the same species. There are two different species of this animal, not just one, a study found. 3The scientists reported finding major differences in three genetic markers between Chinese red pandas and Himalayan red pandas. Scientists identified the markers after studying DNA from 65 of the creatures. DNA carries genetic information for the development, growth and reproduction of living things. 4Documenting the existence of two separate species could help guide efforts for protecting red pandas, scientists added. 5Chinese red pandas live in northern Myanmar, as well as southeastern Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China. 6Himalayan red pandas are native to Nepal, India, Bhutan and southern Tibet in China, the researchers said. 7Conservation biologists Yibo Hu and Fuwen Wei led the study. Their findings were published in the journal Science Advances. 8"To conserve the genetic uniqueness of the two species, we should avoid their interbreeding in captivity," Hu said. "Interbreeding between species may harm the genetic adaptations already established for their local habitat environment." 9Scientists had earlier suggested there were two species of red panda. But the new study was the first to provide the genetic information necessary to permit such a judgment. 10International experts estimate a total population of around 10,000 red pandas in the wild. The two species differ in coloration and skull shape. The Himalayan red panda is the rarer of the two. 11Major threats to red pandas include deforestation and habitat loss. 12While they have similar names, red pandas and giant pandas are not closely related. Giant pandas are one of the world's eight bear species. 13Red pandas are sometimes called living fossils because they have no close living relatives. They are the only remaining member of their mammalian family.* 14I'm John Russell. 15*The family is called 'Ailuridae' 16Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 17______________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19species - n. a group of individuals who have common qualities 20conservation - n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources - often used before another noun 21uniqueness - n. the quality or state of something being unlike anything or anyone else 22interbreed - v. to cause animals of two different species to produce young animals that are a mixture of the two species 23skull - n. the bones of the head 24habitat - n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows 25We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.