Giant panda's distinct black-and-white markings have two functions -- camouflage and communication, said the study published in the journal Behavioral Ecology. This enabled the team to compare different regions of fur across the giant panda's body to the dark and light colouring of 195 other carnivore species and 39 bear subspecies, to which it is related. Through these comparisons, the study found that most of the pandas -- its face, neck, belly, rump -- is white to help it hide in snowy habitats. The markings on its head, however, are not used to hide from predators, but rather to communicate. Their dark eye patches may help them recognise each other or signal aggression toward panda competitors, the study said.

Source: bd News24 March 04, 2017 10:43 UTC