red panda

noun

: a small, largely arboreal mammal (Ailurus fulgens of the family Ailuridae) that resembles the American raccoon, that is found from the Himalayas to China, and that has long rusty or chestnut fur with dark underparts, a long bushy tail with rings, and a white face and inner ears with a dark stripe from the corners of the eyes to the lower jaw

called also lesser panda

Note: The red panda feeds mostly on bamboo, roots, grass, leaves, fruit, acorns, eggs, insects, and small animals (such as birds). It was formerly considered a relative of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) but is now considered more closely related to the raccoons, skunks, and weasels.

Illustration of red panda

Examples of red panda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In March 2024, an endangered red panda was found alongside 86 other animals inside luggage at Bangkok airport, bound for Mumbai, customs authorities said. —Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025

Last year, Thai customs officials arrested six Indians for attempting to smuggle a red panda and 86 other animals out of the kingdom, including snakes, parrots and monitor lizards. —CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

The original companions, a red panda named Bad Rudi and an anime character named Ani, seemed designed to provoke controversy. —Bruna Horvath, NBC news, 17 July 2025

The red panda named Tenzing was showing neurological symptoms, including balance issues, and after the behavior became consistent zoo vets decided to perform advanced imaging and testing, according to a July 10 Facebook post by the San Francisco Zoo. —Paloma Chavez july 11, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for red panda

• aranda
• miranda
• veranda
• verandah
• banda
• ganda
• vanda
• jacaranda
• memoranda
• propaganda

Kids Definition

red panda

noun

: a long-tailed mammal that is related to and resembles the raccoon, has long reddish brown fur, feeds especially on bamboo leaves, and is found from the Himalayas to China

called also lesser panda