Researchers from California State University, Long Beach and the University of California, Davis have finally answered the question of why giant pandas have black and white markings.
The same scientists, who discovered the reason behind the black and white stripes of zebras, said that pandas have distinct markings for communication and camouflage.
Professor Tim Caro said, "the breakthrough in the study was treating each part of the body as an independent area." He explained that no other mammal carries the same pattern and "understanding why the giant panda has such striking coloration has been a long-standing problem in biology that has been difficult to tackle."
The researchers conducted a comparison of fur belonging to 195 carnivores, 39 bear subspecies, and giant pandas. Dark shades of fur were matched with certain variables linked to ecology and behavior to find out their functions.
It was discovered that the white face, neck, belly, and rump of a panda are used for hiding in a snowy environment while its black arms and legs are intended for disguise in the shade.
Meanwhile, the dark markings on the animal's ears suggest ferocity and caution against predators while dark patches around its eyes are used for recognition and aggression towards rivals.
The researchers of the study published in the journal Behavioral Ecology further explained that due to the animal's poor diet, it has a poor ability to digest wider plant varieties and thus disabling its need to hibernate during winter, unlike other bears. Hence, the native bear of south central China has to stay active all the time and travel from and to snowy and tropical habitats.
Professor Ted Stankowich said, "sometimes it takes hundreds of hours of hard work to answer what seems like the simplest of questions: Why is the panda black and white?"