AnAge entry for Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Classification (HAGRID: 02247)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Carnivora
                Family: Ursidae
                    Genus: Ailuropoda
Species
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Common name
Giant panda
Synonyms
Ursus melanoleucus

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
36.8 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 671
Sample size
Small
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

Because there can be a delay in implantation of 45-120 days, pregnancy can last up to 97-163 days [0434]. One wild born specimen was about 36.8 years of age when it died in captivity [0671]. A female panda called "Jia Jia" reportedly died at age 38 in 2016 at Ocean Park in Hong Kong, but this has not been confirmed.

Studies have suggested that these animals preserve their innate immunity, as a way to tackle the decline of their adaptive immunity with age [1377].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
2,192 days
Male sexual maturity
2,192 days
Gestation
48 days
Weaning
Litter size
1.5 (viviparous)
Litters per year
0.7
Inter-litter interval
548 days
Weight at birth
110 g
Weight at weaning
Adult weight
117,500 g
Postnatal growth rate
0.0028 days-1 (from Gompertz function)
Maximum longevity residual
126%

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 621845
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9646
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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