because it shares characteristics with both bears and raccoons However, molecular studies indicate the giant panda is a true ursine, part of the family Ursidae These studies show it differentiated early (about 19 million years ago from the main ursine stock; since it is the most basal member of the group, it is equidistant from all other extant ursids. The giant panda has been referred to as living fossil
Despite the shared name, habitat type, and diet, as well as a unique enlarged bone called the pseudo thumb (which helps them grip the bamboo shoots they eat) the giant panda and red panda are only distantly related.
Classification