Are Pandas Marsupials?

The short answer

Are Pandas Marsupials? The short answer is no, they are placental mammals.

All about marsupials

One of the most recognisable defining characteristics of marsupials is that they carry their young in pouches. The most iconic marsupial perhaps is Australia’s Kangaroo, often depicted carrying young Joeys in their front pages as they hop from place to place.

Pandas, as panda lovers may have noticed, do not have any such pouches. This is the same for any member of the bear family, who instead leave their young in dens, returning frequently until the cubs are old enough to accompany the mother on her hunts and travels.

There are over 300 different species that fall into the category of marsupial and most of these are found either in Australia and the surrounding island nations or the Americas. However the majority make their home in Australia and New Guinea with around two thirds being native to the area. By contrast the Giant Panda is indigenous to China, which is a part of the Asian continent.

There may be some confusion on this matter caused by the koala bear, which is not actually a part of the bear family at all! The koala bear is actually a marsupial and is only called a bear because of its appearance.

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