Dr. Steven Wallace, a paleontologist from ETSU, has written a chapter in the new book, “Red Panda: Biology and Conservation of the First Panda,” published by William Andrew.Wallace is an associate professor of Geosciences at ETSU and a curator for the ETSU and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitor Center at the Gray Fossil Site.
In addition to summarizing the history of the red pandas, Wallace’s chapter includes information on the red panda discovered at the Gray Fossil Site.
That panda, named Pristinailurus bristoli, was the subject of an article in a 2004 issue of the prestigious journal Nature.
At that time, it was the earliest and most primitive panda ever recorded.
Although the greater panda is essentially a bear, red pandas are more closely related to raccoons.
Wallace said that living red pandas are slightly smaller than the fossil species discovered at Gray and are today only found in the Himalayas.
They also have a highly specialized diet of bamboo.
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