Giant panda years ago) from the main ursine stock; since it is the most basal member of the group, it is equidistant from all other extant ursids. The giant panda has been referred to as a living fossil. Despite the shared name, habitat type, and diet, as well as a unique enlarged bone called the "pseudo thumb" (which helps them grip the bamboo shoots they eat) the giant panda and red panda are only distantly related. The word "panda" was borrowed into English from French, but no conclusive explanation of the origin of the French word "panda" has been found. The closest
Udo the Red Panda Udo the Red Panda Udo the Red Panda is the costumed mascot of the University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany athletics teams. He represents an anthropomorphic version of a red panda (or red cat-bear). The "Udo the Red Panda" mascot officially debuted at the 2011 WHU Euromasters, when Mannheim beat LMU at during the championships. Since then, the mascot has been a fan favorite for Mannheim's athletics fans. As the Mannheim athletics teams do not have a logo on their helmets or uniforms, Udo's likeness appears on much team merchandise and such. The red panda (Latin: Ailurus fulgens), also known as