Red pandas are not pandas: Despite having similar names, red pandas and giant pandas are not closely related. Genetically, they are actually closely related to bears, raccoons, and skunks. They are also called the lesser panda, red cat-bear, and red bear-cat.

Genetically the red pandas belong to the order of Carnivora, but mostly eat bamboo shoots, mushrooms, etc, and also eat birds, eggs, and insects.

Occasionally, they supplement their diets with birds, eggs, fishes, small mammals, and insects. They have extremely robust dentition in contrast to other carnivores of their size.

The average lifespan of red pandas is 23 years, but females stop breeding after age 12.