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Comment on why don't pandas exist in Chinese history prior to 1869? the creature "Mo" that is referenced looks nothing like a Panda

TheFogan@programming.dev ⁨20⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

not an expert on animals at all, let alone panda’s specifically, but I’d imagine it’s horrific evolutionary path, likely had them at very low numbers for most of their history. Hell it wouldn’t suprise me if panda’s were the equivelant of like pugs are to dogs. Some crazy group selective bread them because they thought it was cute… it got out enough to survive, but just barely survive, and lives now due to humans trying to protect these things that can’t even be motivated to reproduce.

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Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨19⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
academic.oup.com/mbe/article/32/1/4/2925562

The problem pandas have is people, not themselves.

It is commonly argued that giant pandas are an evolutionary cul-de-sac because of their specialized bamboo diet, phylogenetic changes in body size, small population, low genetic diversity, and low reproductive rate. This notion is incorrect, arose from a poor understanding or appreciation of giant panda biology, and is in need of correction. In this review, we summarize research across morphology, ecology, and genetics to dispel the idea, once and for all, that giant pandas are evolutionary dead-end. The latest and most advanced research shows that giant pandas are successful animals highly adapted to a specialized bamboo diet via morphological, ecological, and genetic adaptations and coadaptation of gut microbiota. We also debunk misconceptions around population size, population growth rate, and genetic variation. During their evolutionary history spanning 8 My, giant pandas have survived diet specialization, massive bamboo flowering and die off, and rapid climate oscillations. Now, they are suffering from enormous human interference.

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- Einskjaldi@lemmy.world ⁨18⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  It’s because there was a fuck ton of bamboo and not a lot of things that could eat it.
  
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  - Duhtocqueville@ttrpg.network ⁨17⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    So like picture a bear
    
    Yeah okay one of the most successful and impressive biological families go on
    
    But it eats this weed that’s like everywhere that nothing else can eat
    
    Wouldn’t that like, over populate and dominate the world?
    
    Weirdly? Only on paper.
    
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    Einskjaldi@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
    It was just like a regular bear except there was berries but then this barely edible grass and only the bears most willing to just sit there and be lazy and chew all day long on this stuff could make it panda status.
    
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  - Tollana1234567@lemmy.today ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    and bamboo isnt super calorie dense or super nutritious. they are more akin to koalas.
    
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- MichaeleanDouglasse@thelemmy.club ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I guess that stands for “eight million years” in case anyone else is wondering.
  
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