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The morphological characteristics of extinct relatives of the giant panda suggest that while the ancient giant panda was omnivorous 7 million years ago (mya), it only became herbivorous some 2–2.4 mya with the emergence of A. microta. [67] [68] Genome sequencing of the giant panda suggests that the dietary switch could have initiated from the loss of the sole umami taste receptor, encoded by the genes TAS1R1 and TAS1R3 (also known as T1R1 and T1R3), resulting from two frameshift mutations within the T1R1 exons. [69] Umami taste corresponds to high levels of glutamate as found in meat and may have thus altered the food choice of the giant panda. [70] Although the pseudogenisation (conversion into a pseudogene) of the umami taste receptor in Ailuropoda coincides with the dietary switch to herbivory, it is likely a result of, and not the reason for, the dietary change. [68] [69] [70] The mutation time for the T1R1 gene in the giant panda is estimated to 4.2 mya [68] while fossil evidence indicates bamboo consumption in the giant panda species at least 7 mya, [67] signifying that although complete herbivory occurred around 2 mya, the dietary switch was initiated prior to T1R1 loss-of-function.

a b c "Discussion about the Chinese name for giant panda (in Chinese)". Archived from the original on 24 January 2008 . Retrieved 17 January 2008. Datta, A.; Naniwadekar, R. & Anand, M. O. (2008). "Occurrence and conservation status of small carnivores in two protected areas in Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India". Small Carnivore Conservation. 39: 1–10. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022 . Retrieved 18 March 2022. It has been estimated that an adult panda absorbs 54.8–66.1mg (0.846–1.020gr) of cyanide a day through its diet. To prevent poisoning, they have evolved anti-toxic mechanisms to protect themselves. About 80% of the cyanide is metabolized to less toxic thiocyanate and discharged in urine, while the remaining 20% is detoxified by other minor pathways. [66]Giant pandas reach sexual maturity between the ages of four and eight, and may be reproductive until age 20. [100] The mating season is between March and May, when a female goes into estrus, which lasts for two or three days and only occurs once a year. [101] When mating, the female is in a crouching, head-down position as the male mounts her from behind. Copulation time ranges from 30 seconds to five minutes, but the male may mount her repeatedly to ensure successful fertilisation. The gestation period is somewhere between 95 and 160 days - the variability is due to the fact that the fertilized egg may linger in the reproductive system for a while before implanting on the uterine wall. [101]

Pradhan, S.; Saha, G. K. & Khan, J. A. (2001). "Ecology of the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens in the Singhalila National Park, Darjeeling, India". Biological Conservation. 98: 11–18. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3207(00)00079-3.

Antón, M.; Salesa, M. J.; Pastor, J. F.; Peigné, S. & Morales, J. (2006). "Implications of the functional anatomy of the hand and forearm of Ailurus fulgens (Carnivora, Ailuridae) for the evolution of the 'false-thumb' in pandas". Journal of Anatomy. 209 (6): 757–764. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00649.x. PMC 2049003. PMID 17118063. a b c Reid, D. G.; Jinchu, H. & Yan, H. (1991). "Ecology of the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens in the Wolong Reserve, China". Journal of Zoology. 225 (3): 347–364. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb03821.x. Red pandas are long-day breeders, reproducing after the winter solstice as daylight grows longer. Mating thus takes place from January to March, with births occurring from May to August. Reproduction is delayed by six months for captive pandas in the southern hemisphere. Oestrous lasts a day, and females can enter oestrous multiple times a season, but it is not known how long the intervals between each cycle last. [71]