Red Pandas, two species?

[TinoPup]

According to a study posted yesterday, the red panda is two species, the Chinese and Himalayan, not one with two subspecies. See the study here: Genomic evidence for two phylogenetic species and long-term population bottlenecks in red pandas

According to BBC, the study has some big support: Red pandas are two species, not one

 

[birdsandbats]

It will be interesting to see if this is accepted or not.

On another note, are all of the Red Pandas in American zoos Chinese or are there a few Himalayan around as well?

 

[ShonenJake13]

It will be interesting to see if this is accepted or not.

On another note, are all of the Red Pandas in American zoos Chinese or are there a few Himalayan around as well?

Last I checked there were way more Nepalese (Himalayan) than Chinese in US zoos - believe around 35% of the US captive population is Chinese, compared to 60% Nepalese (and 5% unknown/hybrids).
Comparitively, all of Australasia and Europe's captive individuals are Nepalese.

 

[Crowthorne]

Last I checked there were way more Nepalese (Himalayan) than Chinese in US zoos - believe around 35% of the US captive population is Chinese, compared to 60% Nepalese (and 5% unknown/hybrids).
Comparitively, all of Australasia and Europe's captive individuals are Nepalese.

Thank you for the info @ShonenJake13 I was wondering about the European animals. I've always thought they didn't look 'quite right', with very pale faces and plainer tails. All makes sense now!