Qinling giant panda features a round head and short mouth, which looks more like cats; while Sichuan giant panda – a more bear-like one, has a bigger and oval head, according to the study.
The study reported the chromosome-level genomes of two extant giant panda subspecies, with the first genome assembly of the Qinling subspecies. The modern Qinling and Sichuan populations were split 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, forming the current subspecies distribution.In response to the huge changes in eating habits, panda evolved relatively small internal organs to slow down metabolism.
The study, published in the Science Bulletin, also revealed the genetic mechanisms of reduced inner organs, as well as the low reproduction of the giant panda. — China Daily/ANN