Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
Search
Profile
PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
…and this is a pharyngula stage embryo.
• a longer profile of yours truly
• my calendar
• Nature Network
• RichardDawkins Network
• facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Atheist Nexus
• the Pharyngula chat room
(#pharyngula on irc.synirc.net)
• Quick link to the latest endless thread
I reserve the right to publicly post, with full identifying information about the source, any email sent to me that contains threats of violence.
Random Quote
The missionaries go forth to Christianize the savages - as if the savages weren't dangerous enough already.
Edward Abbey
Recent Posts
- GOATS ON FIRE!
- That's the spirit
- Cephalopodmas Contest!
- You know it's a stinker when they're afraid of the reviewers
- UMM graduates Women of Worth
- Harlan Ellison on God
- Friday Cephalopod: Say hello to my little friend
- The Rapture is coming. Again. Ho hum.
- Rick Warren, finally
- Glitchy commenting
A Taste of Pharyngula
Recent Comments
- pcarini on GOATS ON FIRE!
- Ray Moscow on The Rapture is coming. Again. Ho hum.
- shonny on You know it's a stinker when they're afraid of the reviewers
- Sili on The lost skeleton of the mad bride of the son of the thread from Mars that will not die!
- Josh on You know it's a stinker when they're afraid of the reviewers
- Alan B on The lost skeleton of the mad bride of the son of the thread from Mars that will not die!
- scooterKPFT on GOATS ON FIRE!
- Richard Eis on You know it's a stinker when they're afraid of the reviewers
- Sili on GOATS ON FIRE!
- SEF on Glitchy commenting
Archives
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- November 2001
Blogroll
Other Information
« News from the other side of the world | Main | There are never enough cartoons about Space Squid »
Mary's Monday Metazoan: Everyone loves the Red Panda
Category: Organisms
Posted on: April 27, 2009 7:31 AM, by PZ Myers
Find more posts in: 
Life Science
Share this: Facebook Twitter Stumbleupon Reddit Email + More
TrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/108088
Comments
Posted by: Rorschach
|
April 27, 2009 7:39 AM
@ 1,
dickhead.
A fox??
Posted by: Colonel Molerat | April 27, 2009 7:41 AM
Ahem... Sorry, that was my first first-post EVER!
It is a very nice picture!
Are red pandas related to 'real' pandas, or is it a misnomer?
What do they eat? What's their range?
How many would it take to make a fur coat?
I know that I could have googled all of that, but I thought I'd try and add something more than 'Firsties!' to the comments...
Posted by: Paul Lamb | April 27, 2009 7:44 AM
Looks a little bit like my Pomeranian, Queequeg.
Posted by: Kiyoshi Aman
|
April 27, 2009 7:49 AM
It's a bit of a misnomer, yes; the 'panda' comes from poonya, Himalayan for 'eater of bamboo'. Red pandas are actually members of the musteloidea superfamily, and are potentially related to skunks, raccoons, and weasels.
(Above brought to you by Wikipedia, which may or may not be accurate. I'm sure either PZ or another individual more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong.)
Posted by: Colonel Molerat | April 27, 2009 7:53 AM
@ Rorschach.
Wanker?
Your turn.
Posted by: chris y | April 27, 2009 7:55 AM
And to complete the confusion, its generic name is Ailurus, which is a latinisation of the Greek for cat.
Posted by: isaah vincent | April 27, 2009 8:08 AM
firefox?
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 27, 2009 8:13 AM
Part Racoon part Wooly Worm
Posted by: Azkyroth | April 27, 2009 8:26 AM
Skatje must be happeh.
Posted by: Evolving Squid
|
April 27, 2009 8:29 AM
@Colonel Molerat
People here tend not to explain the generally accepted rules. Since your post at #1 was deleted, I can surmise that it was something like:
"FIRST!!!!!!!!1!!1!!!!!11!!!!one!!!!!!eleven!!! uh uh uh"
Firsting gets you pimp-slapped here, and rightfully so.
Generally, people are pretty tolerant of all sorts of weird-ass bollocks that people post, but if you post a "First", you get a virtual kick in the nads.
Consider yourself informed.
Posted by: anonymous | April 27, 2009 8:34 AM
omg its pedofox
Posted by: Wowbagger, OM | April 27, 2009 8:36 AM
Adelaide's getting a couple of regular black & white pandas at its zoo come October. It's going to be awesome; they're probably going to struggle to cope with the demand - which is great. I know I'll be going at least once; I'll probably even become a member, since I reckon it'll be worth it.
Posted by: seokso | April 27, 2009 8:38 AM
I love the new first post (no offense to Rorcshach). How surreal! Next up: "This is not a comment."
Posted by: Rorschach
|
April 27, 2009 8:39 AM
Molerat,
its just that we hate the empty message "first" rubbish.Nothing personal.
Have something to say or dont post.
OT,
just received the bulletin for Australian Emergency Departments and ICUs about the new Influenza A variant,and it sure looks like its interesting times ahead.No need to panic though.If I was a scienceborg,Id be blogging about that right now.
Posted by: Gilian | April 27, 2009 8:42 AM
Reminds me of a raccoon or a fluffy fox. Cuteness factor is extreme, but I wouldn't be surprised if it would rip your arm off if you'd try to pet it!
Posted by: Svlad | April 27, 2009 8:42 AM
Huzzah for Firefox
Posted by: Evolving Squid
|
April 27, 2009 8:42 AM
@#4
Yes, I recall reading, at one of the local zoos, that red pandas are effectively asian raccoon cousins.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 27, 2009 8:44 AM
Check out the front page of Science blogs. There are many">http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/04/the_evolving_swine_flu_story.php">many posts on it.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 27, 2009 8:46 AM
code fail
Posted by: Ash | April 27, 2009 8:46 AM
Red Pandas (Ailuridae: Ailurus fulgens) are members of a unique monogenic family of carnivores and is only marginally related to the Giant Panda (Ursidae: Ailuropoda melanoleuca), which is of the bear family. Red Pandas are sometimes described as an offshoot from the branch that unites bears and mustelids within the Carnivora.
Posted by: Muffin | April 27, 2009 8:47 AM
Wahs are just too cute. :)
Also, @4: skunks aren't considered part of the mustelid family anymore; they've got their own (mephitidae) now.
Posted by: Rorschach
|
April 27, 2009 8:51 AM
Rev,
Ive read most of those actually.not very informative.Which of course reflects the fact that we know jackshit about its infectiosity and mortality right now.
Tara's article is by far the best of them yet.
Posted by: Colonel Molerat | April 27, 2009 8:53 AM
Yes, yes, I know it can be annoying to simply post 'firsties' - which is why immediately wrote another post asking about the subject itself (which got to number 3, as another response had been posted in between). I didn't think it would cause so much ire, provided I followed it up with an actual contribution... I was just excited at being an up-to-date kind of person for a change.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 27, 2009 8:56 AM
Tara is always good and the folks at Effect Measure aren't too bad either. But yeah it's still early so there is a lot of "figgerin' out" going on.
Posted by: Red Panda Lady | April 27, 2009 9:10 AM
Red pandas were actually the FIRST panda discovered almost 50 years before the giant panda. The scientists are curretnly debating on whether or not to place the red panda in it's own species as it is a carnivore and really doesn't belong in the category with skunks & racoons. In response to how many would it take to make a coat? The animal is endangered and it's kind of frowned upon to even suggest such a thing!
Posted by: Cath the Canberra Cook | April 27, 2009 9:16 AM
Gilian, I have a bunch of pictures of my friend petting a red panda. It was extremely tolerant about being held, as long as there were apple slices. Of course this one was habituated to humans; it was in the panda research centre/zoo/tourist site at Chengdu.
Posted by: Colonel Molerat | April 27, 2009 9:19 AM
@Red Panda Lady
Endangered, you say?!
Oh my! Now that coat is even more highly prized!
Posted by: c-law | April 27, 2009 9:26 AM
but... can it teach me the mysteries of kung fu?
"Training is finished. You are free to eat."
am i? AM I?
Posted by: Darren Garrison | April 27, 2009 9:37 AM
lolredpanda says: I can haz aspartame?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30392420/
Posted by: mike | April 27, 2009 9:53 AM
Not impressed.
Red "Panda" trying to steal panda thunder"
Posted by: mike | April 27, 2009 9:55 AM
Related: Pistols For Pandas
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 27, 2009 10:01 AM
Ha
Posted by: robin m
|
April 27, 2009 10:05 AM
Red pandas are the most awesome animal ever. I want some for my backyard.
Posted by: Dr. Strangelove
|
April 27, 2009 10:14 AM
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Posted by: the pro from dover | April 27, 2009 10:15 AM
The Denver Zoo's got them and a baby born last year to boot.
Posted by: Chris Davis
|
April 27, 2009 10:20 AM
Hah - proof of De Lawd!
Unless, of course, Cute confers a survival benefit. Which would go some way to explaining the unlikely survival of certain modduls.
Posted by: jennyxyzzy | April 27, 2009 10:48 AM
Awwwww, he's so cute! But I still prefer koalas. Roasted, by preference.
Posted by: jsoutofbiblepgs
|
April 27, 2009 11:16 AM
I finally looked up "metazoa." Oh.
Yay! Who doesn't love the red panda?? How cute!
Posted by: Don Cates | April 27, 2009 11:24 AM
Red Panda - the only cute baby that gets cuter when it grows up.
Posted by: daveau
|
April 27, 2009 11:31 AM
Adorable. Fuck You, Penguin will rip him to shreds.
Posted by: Evolving Squid
|
April 27, 2009 11:35 AM
The problem with pictures like that one is that it stands a good chance of attracting "Furries".
Posted by: SaraJ
|
April 27, 2009 11:39 AM
I love red pandas! Every time I see a picture of one I make that high-pitched OMG how cute noise that some of us girls are wont to do when we see a super cute baby/fuzzy thing/etc.
Posted by: greythorne
|
April 27, 2009 11:45 AM
I thought raccoons were Procyonidae and included red pandas. This is not true any longer?
Posted by: Ron Sullivan | April 27, 2009 12:00 PM
AWWWwwwwww, KITTY! Or um PUPPY! Or whatever it is this month. I (heart) living in interesting taxonomic times.
If Col. Molerat is a naked molerat he/she might indeed want a fur coat. But Mommy won't let her/him have one.
Posted by: Ian A. A. Watson
|
April 27, 2009 1:39 PM
Aw, a fire fox. Adorable.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 27, 2009 1:43 PM
It has its own family, Ailuridae, nowPosted by: Pat Farrell | April 27, 2009 1:58 PM
Do you remember, oh, a couple, or three or more, of years ago or so, when Mozilla's Firefox browser had a promotion wherein they offered a stuffed red panda (cotton - never the real critter!) as a bonus for using their product: well not exactly a bonus, since one had to pay for it, but once you had paid for this stuffed toy, it came in the mail, and can occupy a honored spot in your collection.
Posted by: AmyD
|
April 27, 2009 2:49 PM
Awwwww! So cute. I saw one this weekend but didn't get a chance to really look, I had to catch up to my son who literally runs through the zoo. Maybe leg shackles next time. :)
Posted by: sublunary | April 27, 2009 3:52 PM
Aw, I also love red pandas. They're at the top of my list of animals I'd love to own as a pet but probably wouldn't be allowed to.
Anyone curious about their names, their lives or anything else about the,, should check out these two articles on TetZoo from last year. Lots of neat info, plus a picture of one standing up!
Posted by: Unstrung Photo | April 27, 2009 6:17 PM
These guys are really cool. A few million years ago they lived in North America and the first Red Panda fossil skeleton ever found in the world was discovered across the Interstate from where I work!
It was named Pristinailurus bristoli.
The ETSU/Gray Fossil Site web page has more info on it: http://www.etsu.edu/grayfossilsite/Red_Panda/
Posted by: detrius | April 27, 2009 6:39 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=occw-8sSao4
Red pandas: clearly a menace. ;)
Posted by: MoxieHart | April 27, 2009 7:05 PM
Cue to Katamari Damacy 2: Red pandas are turning brown. Not cute at all! You have to roll up expensive items to buy strawberries to turn them red again.
Posted by: Marie the Bookwyrm | April 27, 2009 7:21 PM
OMG!!! Cute Overload!!!
Posted by: Kobra | April 27, 2009 7:23 PM
Argh! I can't stop staring. The damned thing is, shall we say, "cute?"
Too cute, in fact. I'm convinced that their striped tails have hypnotic properties. Or something.
Posted by: Jadehawk, OM
|
April 28, 2009 2:27 AM
sooo.... since I can't have a kitten, you guys think my boyfriend would let me have a Red Panda?
Posted by: tnosaj | April 28, 2009 3:31 AM
Cute as that photo is, they are a zillion times cuter when they're up and about. They casually stroll from branch to branch, at perfect ease with heights and wind. They're calm and unhurried and graceful.
Then your heart explodes from the cute, and their awful plan is revealed.
Posted by: Colonel Molerat | April 28, 2009 3:41 AM
@ Jadehawk
"sooo.... since I can't have a kitten, you guys think my boyfriend would let me have a Red Panda?"
Get a grizzly bear. If your boyfriend disagrees, he can take it back to the shop himself.
Posted by: Anon'mous_Nin | April 28, 2009 3:17 PM
D'awwwwww... cute. It almost looks like a furry ouroborous about to chomp its tail and roll right off that tree branch, d'awwwwww...
Hmmm.. now that I look at that pic again, it also kinda looks like Wilford Brimley, too. D'awwwww...