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
Taotao (giant panda) Taotao (giant panda) Taotao ( c. 1972 – April 2, 2008) was a Chinese giant panda. Taotao was China's oldest living giant panda at the time of her death at the age of 36. Taotao was born in the wild in Gansu province, and in October 1994 was brought to the zoo in Jinan in the Shandong province. Taotao never gave birth in captivity, despite the efforts of researchers and zoo keepers. Taotao was considered to be one of the Jinan Zoo's star attractions and was seen by millions of visitors from 1994 to 2008. The Jinan Zoo reportedly bestowed