The Singalila Ridge is a north–south mountain ridge running from northwestern West Bengal through Sikkim in the Indian part of the Himalayas . The district of Ilam in Nepal falls on the western part of this ridge.
41-413: The ridge separates mountain ranges of West Bengal from other Himalayan ranges to its west. The two highest peaks of West Bengal, Sandakphu (3,636 m (11,929 ft)) and Phalut (3,600 m (11,800 ft)) are located on the ridge. The Singalila National Park encompasses the ridge. It is noted for its views of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest . The trek from Manebhanjan to Sandakphu and Phalut
82-421: A "false thumb"—an extended wrist bone—with the modern species, suggesting the appendage was an adaptation to arboreal locomotion and not to feed on bamboo . Later and more advanced ailurids are classified in the subfamily Ailurinae and are known as the "true" red pandas. These animals were smaller and more adapted for an omnivorous or herbivorous diet. The earliest known true panda is Magerictis from
123-554: A dense canopy cover of more than 75 per cent, steep slopes and a density of at least 70 bamboo plants/m (6.5 bamboo plants/sq ft). In some parts of China, the red panda coexists with the giant panda. In Fengtongzhai and Yele National Nature Reserves , red panda microhabitat is characterised by steep slopes with lots of bamboo stems , shrubs, fallen logs and stumps, whereas the giant panda prefers gentler slopes with taller but lesser amounts of bamboo and less habitat features overall. Such niche separation lessens competition between
164-616: A diameter of 30 cm (12 in). Red pandas observed in Phrumsengla National Park used foremost easterly and southerly slopes with a mean slope of 34° and a canopy cover of 66 per cent that were overgrown with bamboo about 23 m (75 ft) in height. In Dafengding Nature Reserve , it prefers steep south-facing slopes in winter and inhabits forests with bamboo 1.5–2.5 m (4 ft 11 in – 8 ft 2 in) tall. In Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve , it inhabits mixed coniferous forest with
205-688: A good claim to being the most poisonous plant species in the world). The trek along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu and Phalut is one of the most popular in the Eastern Himalayas , owing not only to the stupendous vistas of the Kangchenjunga and Everest ranges which it affords, but also to its seasonal wildflowers and opportunities for birdwatching . Treks begin at Manebhanjan which is 28 km (approx. 1 hour by road) from Darjeeling. The Sandakphu Trekking routes inside
246-682: A reduced snout and triangular ears, and nearly evenly lengthed limbs. It has a head-body length of 51–63.5 cm (20.1–25.0 in) with a 28–48.5 cm (11.0–19.1 in) tail. The Himalayan red panda is recorded to weigh 3.2–9.4 kg (7.1–20.7 lb), while the Chinese red panda weighs 4–15 kg (8.8–33.1 lb) for females and 4.2–13.4 kg (9.3–29.5 lb) for males. It has five curved digits on each foot, each with curved semi-retractile claws that aid in climbing. The pelvis and hindlimbs have flexible joints, adaptations for an arboreal quadrupedal lifestyle. While not prehensile ,
287-431: Is Latin for 'shining, bright'. The red panda was described and named in 1825 by Frederic Cuvier , who gave it its current scientific name Ailurus fulgens . Cuvier's description was based on zoological specimens , including skin, paws, jawbones and teeth "from the mountains north of India", as well as an account by Alfred Duvaucel . The red panda was described earlier by Thomas Hardwicke in 1821, but his paper
328-550: Is based on the grooves on the side of its canine teeth . Other early or basal ailurids include Alopecocyon and Simocyon , whose fossils have been found throughout Eurasia and North America dating from the Middle Miocene , the latter of which survived into the Early Pliocene . Both have similar teeth to Amphictis and thus had a similar diet. The puma -sized Simocyon was likely a tree-climber and shared
369-492: Is located in Sandakpur rural municipality (ward no. 2 & 4) of Ilam District of Province No. 1 . The trekking starts from Ilam Bazar via Maipokhari , Maimajhuwa , Mabu , Kala Pokhri Bikhe Bhyanjyang to Sandakpur, and also from Ilam Bazar via Sulubung, Jamuna, Hangetham (a special area for birds such as the spiny babbler and blue tit ), Piple, Kalipokhari, Bikhe Vanjyang to Sandakpur. On this trekking route, Jamuna
410-420: Is most valuable for trekkers. There are many beautiful places like Dhap Pokhari, Choyatar (special area for red pandas ). There is a three jungle Hile Samudayik Ban, Choyatar Samudayik Ban, Hangetham Samudayik Ban. Red panda A. f. fulgens F. Cuvier, 1825 A. f. styani Thomas , 1902 The red panda ( Ailurus fulgens ), also known as the lesser panda , is a small mammal native to
451-430: Is only 4.2 times its body length, with a simple stomach, no noticeable divide between the ileum and colon , and no caecum . Both sexes have paired anal glands that emit a secretion consisting of long-chain fatty acids , cholesterol , squalene and 2-Piperidinone ; the latter is the most odoriferous compound and is perceived by humans as having an ammoniacal or pepper-like odour. The red panda inhabits Nepal ,
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#1732764704332492-523: Is popular amongst adventure travelers, as is mountain biking. The four highest peaks are : This article about a location in West Bengal is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sandakphu Sandakphu or Sandakpur (3636 m; 11,930 ft) is a mountain peak in the Singalila Ridge on the border between India and Nepal . It is the highest point of
533-563: Is thought to be the red panda's Nepali name; in English, it was simply called panda , and was the only animal known under this name for more than 40 years; it became known as the red panda or lesser panda to distinguish it from the giant panda , which was formally described and named in 1869. The genus name Ailurus is adopted from the Ancient Greek word αἴλουρος ailouros meaning 'cat'. The specific epithet fulgens
574-538: The Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests ecoregion. The westernmost records to date were obtained in three community forests in Kalikot District in 2019. Panchthar and Ilam Districts represent its easternmost range in the country, where its habitat in forest patches is surrounded by villages, livestock pastures and roads. The metapopulation in protected areas and wildlife corridors in
615-750: The Hengduan Mountains subalpine conifer forests and Qionglai-Minshan conifer forests in the Hengduan , Qionglai , Xiaoxiang , Daxiangling and Liangshan Mountains in Sichuan. In the adjacent Yunnan province, it was recorded only in the northwestern montane part. The red panda prefers microhabitats within 70–240 m (230–790 ft) of water sources. Fallen logs and tree stumps are important habitat features, as they facilitate access to bamboo leaves. Red pandas have been recorded to use steep slopes of more than 20° and stumps exceeding
656-784: The Kangchenjunga landscape of Sikkim and northern West Bengal is partly connected through old-growth forests outside protected areas. Forests in this landscape are dominated by Himalayan oaks ( Quercus lamellosa and Q. semecarpifolia ), Himalayan birch , Himalayan fir , Himalayan maple with bamboo, Rhododendron and some black juniper shrub growing in the understoreys . Records in Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh's Pangchen Valley , West Kameng and Shi Yomi districts indicate that it frequents habitats with Yushania and Thamnocalamus bamboo, medium-sized Rhododendron , whitebeam and chinquapin trees. In China, it inhabits
697-564: The Late Oligocene or Early Miocene , about 25 to 18 million years ago . The earliest member Amphictis is known from its 10 cm (4 in) skull and may have been around the same size as the modern species. Its dentition consists of sharp premolars and carnassials (P4 and m1) and molars adapted for grinding (M1, M2 and m2), suggesting that it had a generalised carnivorous diet. Its placement within Ailuridae
738-624: The Siang River constitutes the boundary between the Himalayan and Chinese red pandas. They probably diverged due to glaciation events on the southern Tibetan Plateau in the Pleistocene . The placement of the red panda on the evolutionary tree has been debated. In the early 20th century, various scientists placed it in the family Procyonidae with raccoons and their allies. At the time, most prominent biologists also considered
779-582: The Tibeto-Burman Lepcha language and translates as "the height of the poisonous plant" - in reference to the former abundance at the locality (around a century ago) of the poisonous plants Aconitum ferox and certain Rhododendron species. So great was the danger of fatal poisoning to sheep and cattle being driven through the area that they had to be muzzled to prevent them grazing/browsing upon these toxic species ( Aconitum ferox has
820-453: The eastern Himalayas and southwestern China . It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is 51–63.5 cm (20.1–25.0 in) with a 28–48.5 cm (11.0–19.1 in) tail, and it weighs between 3.2 and 15 kg (7.1 and 33.1 lb). It is well adapted to climbing due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws. The red panda
861-423: The Chinese red panda ( A. f. styani ). The Himalayan subspecies has a straighter profile, a lighter coloured forehead and ochre -tipped hairs on the lower back and rump. The Chinese subspecies has a more curved forehead and sloping snout, a darker coat with a less white face and more contrast between the tail rings. In 2020, results of a genetic analysis of red panda samples showed that the red panda populations in
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#1732764704332902-572: The Himalayas and China were separated about 250,000 years ago. The researchers suggested that the two subspecies should be treated as distinct species. Red pandas in southeastern Tibet and northern Myanmar were found to be part of styani , while those of southern Tibet were of fulgens in the strict sense. DNA sequencing of 132 red panda faecal samples collected in Northeast India and China also showed two distinct clusters indicating that
943-545: The Middle Miocene of Spain and known only from one tooth, a lower second molar. The tooth shows both ancestral and new characteristics having a relatively low and simple crown but also a lengthened crushing surface with developed tooth cusps like later species. Later ailurines include Pristinailurus bristoli which lived in eastern North America from the late Miocene to the Early Pliocene and species of
984-506: The Pleistocene and appears to have been limited to Asia. The modern red panda's lineage became adapted for a specialised bamboo diet, having molar-like premolars and more elevated cusps. The false thumb would secondarily gain a function in feeding. Analysis of 53 red panda samples from Sichuan and Yunnan showed a high level of genetic diversity . The full genome of the red panda was sequenced in 2017. Researchers have compared it to
1025-707: The Singalila National Park have four legs or stages. Panorama of Peaks seen from Sandakphu and Phalut Baruntse (7220m), Chamlang (7319m), Chomo Lonzo (7818m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8462m), Mount Everest (8848m), Nuptse (7861m), Kanchenjunga (8586m), Talung (7349m), Rathong (6679m), Kabru N (7353m), Koktang (6147m), Simvo (6812m), Frey (5853m), Kabru S (7318m), Kabru Dome (6600m), Kabru Forked (6100m), Pandim (6691m), Tenchenkhang (6010m), Jupono (5650m) Villages At Glance: Gorkhey, Bhareng, Gairibas, Meghma, Maneybhanjyang, Rammam, Srikhola, Sepi, Molley, Gurdum The western part of Sandakphu peak
1066-413: The dense undercoat is fluffier with shorter hairs. The guard hairs on the back have a circular cross-section and are 47–56 mm (1.9–2.2 in) long. It has moderately long whiskers around the mouth, lower jaw and chin. The hair on the soles of the paws allows the animal to walk in snow. The red panda has a relatively small head, though proportionally larger than in similarly sized raccoons, with
1107-675: The females giving birth to litters of up to four cubs in summer. It is threatened by poaching as well as destruction and fragmentation of habitat due to deforestation . The species has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2015. It is protected in all range countries . Community-based conservation programmes have been initiated in Nepal , Bhutan and northeastern India ; in China, it benefits from nature conservation projects. Regional captive breeding programmes for
1148-501: The genome of the giant panda to learn the genetics of convergent evolution , as both species have false thumbs and are adapted for a specialised bamboo diet despite having the digestive system of a carnivore. Both pandas show modifications to certain limb development genes ( DYNC2H1 and PCNT ), which may play roles in the development of the thumbs. In switching from a carnivorous to a herbivorous diet, both species have reactivated taste receptor genes used for detecting bitterness , though
1189-502: The genus Parailurus which first appear in Early Pliocene Europe, spreading across Eurasia into North America. These animals are classified as a sister taxon to the lineage of the modern red panda. In contrast to the herbivorous modern species, these ancient pandas were likely omnivores, with highly cusped molars and sharp premolars . The earliest fossil record of the modern genus Ailurus dates no earlier than
1230-549: The red panda ( Ailuridae ) stretches back around 25 to 18 million years ago , as indicated by extinct fossil relatives found in Eurasia and North America. The red panda inhabits coniferous forests as well as temperate broadleaf and mixed forests , favouring steep slopes with dense bamboo cover close to water sources. It is solitary and largely arboreal . It feeds mainly on bamboo shoots and leaves, but also on fruits and blossoms. Red pandas mate in early spring, with
1271-975: The red panda has close affinities with procyonids. Further genetic studies in 2005, 2018 and 2021 have placed the red panda within the clade Musteloidea , which also includes Procyonidae, Mustelidae ( weasels and relatives) and Mephitidae ( skunks and relatives). Canidae [REDACTED] Ursidae [REDACTED] Pinnipedia [REDACTED] Ailuridae [REDACTED] Mephitidae [REDACTED] Procyonidae [REDACTED] Mustelidae [REDACTED] Mephitidae [REDACTED] Ailuridae [REDACTED] Procyonidae [REDACTED] Mustelidae [REDACTED] Canidae [REDACTED] Ursidae [REDACTED] Pinnipedia [REDACTED] Ailuridae [REDACTED] Mephitidae [REDACTED] Procyonidae [REDACTED] Mustelidae [REDACTED] The family Ailuridae appears to have evolved in Europe in either
Singalila Ridge - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-528: The red panda have been established in zoos around the world. It is featured in animated movies, video games, comic books and as the namesake of companies and music bands. The origin of the name panda is uncertain, but one of the most likely theories is that it derived from the Nepali word "ponya". The word पञ्जा pajā or पौँजा pañjā means "ball of the foot" and "claws". The Nepali words "nigalya ponya" has been translated as "bamboo-footed" and
1353-425: The red panda to be related to the giant panda, which would eventually be found to be a bear . A 1982 study examined the similarities and differences in the skull between the red panda and the giant panda, other bears and procyonids, and placed the species in its own family Ailuridae . The author of the study considered the red panda to be more closely related to bears. A 1995 mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed that
1394-521: The ridge and of the state of West Bengal , India. The peak is located at the edge of the Singalila National Park and has a small village on the summit with a few hotels. Four of the five highest peaks in the world, Everest , Kangchenjunga , Lhotse and Makalu can be seen from its summit. It also affords a pristine view of the entire Kangchenjunga Range. Sandakphu is also known as the land of poisonous flowers. The name derives from
1435-401: The sides. In addition, the red panda's sesamoid has a more sunken tip while the giant panda's curves in the middle. These features give the giant panda more developed dexterity. The red panda's skull is wide, and its lower jaw is robust. However, because it eats leaves and stems, which are not as tough, it has smaller chewing muscles than the giant panda. The digestive system of the red panda
1476-419: The specific genes are different. The red panda's coat is mainly red or orange-brown with a black belly and legs. The muzzle, cheeks, brows and inner ear margins are mostly white while the bushy tail has red and buff ring patterns and a dark brown tip. The colouration appears to serve as camouflage in habitat with red moss and white lichen -covered trees. The guard hairs are longer and rougher while
1517-716: The states of Sikkim , West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh in India, Bhutan , southern Tibet , northern Myanmar and China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. The global potential habitat of the red panda has been estimated to comprise 47,100 km (18,200 sq mi) at most; this habitat is located in the temperate climate zone of the Himalayas with a mean annual temperature range of 18–24 °C (64–75 °F). Throughout this range, it has been recorded at elevations of 2,000–4,300 m (6,600–14,100 ft). In Nepal, it lives in six protected area complexes within
1558-402: The tail helps the animal balance while climbing. The forepaws possess a "false thumb", which is an extension of a wrist bone, the radial sesamoid found in many carnivorans. This thumb allows the animal to grip onto bamboo stalks and both the digits and wrist bones are highly flexible. The red panda shares this feature with the giant panda, which has a larger sesamoid that is more compressed at
1599-436: The two bamboo-eating species. The red panda is difficult to observe in the wild, and most studies on its behaviour have taken place in captivity. The red panda appears to be both nocturnal and crepuscular , sleeping in between periods of activity at night. It typically rests or sleeps in trees or other elevated spaces, stretched out prone on a branch with legs dangling when it is hot, and curled up with its hindlimb over
1640-515: Was formally described in 1825. The two currently recognised subspecies, the Himalayan and the Chinese red panda, genetically diverged about 250,000 years ago. The red panda's place on the evolutionary tree has been debated, but modern genetic evidence places it in close affinity with raccoons , weasels , and skunks . It is not closely related to the giant panda , which is a bear , though both possess elongated wrist bones or " false thumbs " used for grasping bamboo . The evolutionary lineage of
1681-460: Was only published in 1827. In 1902, Oldfield Thomas described a skull of a male red panda specimen under the name Ailurus fulgens styani in honour of Frederick William Styan who had collected this specimen in Sichuan . The modern red panda is the only recognised species in the genus Ailurus . It is traditionally divided into two subspecies : the Himalayan red panda ( A. f. fulgens ) and