Even North American black bears, whose name belies their true variations, keep to black or brown shades, with just a handful of those bears sporting dirty white or bluish-gray coats. Why, for example, are pandas black and white? The purpose of the pandas’ black limbs, black ears, black eye patches and white bodies was a particular curiosity to these scientists at the University of California at Davis and California State University at Long Beach. Pandas’ white bodies and heads blend into snow, whereas the black limbs can disappear into the shadows of trees and vegetation. As for pandas’ faces, the scientists said they found “links between contrasting ears and pugnacity,” which is to say that the bears’ black ears may serve as a warning to would-be predators.

Source: Washington Post March 06, 2017 10:08 UTC