red panda

noun

: a small, largely arboreal mammal (Ailurus fulgens of the family Ailuridae) that resembles the American raccoon, that is found from the Himalayas to China, and that has long rusty or chestnut fur with dark underparts, a long bushy tail with rings, and a white face and inner ears with a dark stripe from the corners of the eyes to the lower jaw

called also lesser panda

Note: The red panda feeds mostly on bamboo, roots, grass, leaves, fruit, acorns, eggs, insects, and small animals (such as birds). It was formerly considered a relative of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) but is now considered more closely related to the raccoons, skunks, and weasels.

Illustration of red panda

Examples of red panda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opened in 1965 and USA TODAY ranked its red panda exhibit among the top ten in the nation. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 23 July 2024

Only two days before the cub’s birth, another Michigan zoo celebrated the birth of red panda twins, McClatchy News reported. —Olivia Lloyd, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2024

According to McKinney, this is not the first time a red panda mom has rejected her baby. —Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 9 July 2024

The baby red panda came into the world June 19 and is faring well so far, the Potter Park Zoo said in a July 9 news release. —Olivia Lloyd, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

red panda

noun

: a long-tailed mammal that is related to and resembles the raccoon, has long reddish brown fur, feeds especially on bamboo leaves, and is found from the Himalayas to China

called also lesser panda