Recent Findings Suggest Pandas Evolved To Eat Bamboo Six Million Years Ago

A recent study suggests that panda bears may have developed a liking for bamboo nearly six million years ago. The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, has a unique feature with its paw that other bear species do not. Bears typically have five digits on their paws, however, the giant panda has a sixth digit on its wrist bone that acts like a thumb. This extra digit is used to maneuver and manage bamboo stalks.