一項新的研究顯示，實際上有兩種不同的小熊貓

一項新的研究顯示，實際上有兩種不同的小熊貓

Red pandas just became twice as cute. A new genetic analysis has revealed that the red panda is not one, but two separate species.

小熊貓變得比以前可愛了一倍。一項新的基因分析顯示，小熊貓不是一個物種，而是兩個不同的物種。

Scientists recently took a deep dive into the genomes of these bushy-tailed critters and confirmed that individuals can be clearly categorized into two distinct species: the Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and the Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani).

科學家們最近對這些長著濃密尾巴的生物的基因組進行了深入研究，并證實了個體可以明確地分為兩種不同的物種:喜馬拉雅小熊貓和中國小熊貓。

It’s long been speculated that red pandas might be two separate species, but this was only based on how they look and where they live. This new research, reported in the journal Science Advances, is the first time it's been proven using hard genetic analysis.

長期以來，人們推測小熊貓可能是兩個不同的物種，但這只是基于它們的長相和生活地點。這項發(fā)表在《科學進展》雜志上的新研究，是首次用硬基因分析來證明它。

Red pandas have reddish-brown fur, with a long shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to their short front legs. Despite their name and appetite for bamboo, they’re not closely related to the giant panda. They are a distant relative of raccoons, although they are not too closely related to any living animal, and are the only living species of the genus Ailurus and the family Ailuridae.

小熊貓有紅棕色的皮毛，長而蓬松的尾巴，由于前腿短，走路搖搖擺擺。盡管它們的名字和對竹子的喜愛，但它們與大熊貓并沒有密切的關系。它們是浣熊的遠親，雖然它們與任何現(xiàn)存的動物沒有太密切的關系，而且是唯一活著的Ailurus屬和Ailuridae物種。

The Chinese red panda (seen in photos A and C) and the Himalayan red panda (photos B and D). Yibo Hu et al/Chinese Academy of Sciences/Science Advances 2020

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed DNA taken from blood, muscle, and skin samples of 65 red pandas from seven different wild populations across Asia. Within this cohort, the DNA revealed “substantial genetic divergence between the two species.” In addition, they found three genetic populations within the Chinese red panda species.

中國科學院的研究人員分析了來自亞洲7個不同野生種群的65只小熊貓的血液、肌肉和皮膚樣本的DNA。在這個隊列中，DNA顯示了“兩個物種之間的巨大遺傳差異”。此外，他們還發(fā)現(xiàn)了中國小熊貓的三個遺傳種群。

The two species are divided by the Yalu Zangbu River. Chinese red pandas could be found north of the river in northern Myanmar, southeastern Tibet, and two southwestern provinces in China, while Himalayan red pandas were found south of the river in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and southern Tibet.

這兩個物種以鴨綠江為界。中國的小熊貓分布在河流以北的緬甸北部、西藏東南部和中國的西南兩省，而喜馬拉雅山脈的小熊貓分布在河流以南的尼泊爾、印度、不丹和西藏南部。

“The Himalayan red panda has more white on the face, while the face coat color of the Chinese red panda is redder with less white on it. The tail rings of the Chinese red panda are more distinct than those of the Himalayan red panda, with the dark rings being more dark red and the pale rings being more whitish,” study author Yibo Hu, a conservation biologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Reuters.

“喜瑪拉雅小熊貓的臉更白，而中國小熊貓的臉毛顏色更紅，白的更少。中國科學院的保護生物學家、該研究的作者胡一波告訴路透社，“中國小熊貓的尾環(huán)比喜瑪拉雅小熊貓的尾環(huán)更明顯，深色的尾環(huán)更紅，淺色的尾環(huán)更白。”

Unfortunately, both species are in danger. The IUCN Red List (which still lists red pandas as one species) states they are endangered and their numbers are decreasing. Their main threats are industrial activity, infrastructure development, and the destruction of habitat.

不幸的是，這兩個物種都處于危險之中。國際自然保護聯(lián)盟的紅色名錄(仍然將小熊貓列為一個物種)指出，它們?yōu)l臨滅絕，數(shù)量正在減少。它們的主要威脅是工業(yè)活動、基礎設施發(fā)展和生境的破壞。

This new knowledge could have some big implications for their conservation. Along with introducing species-specific conservation plans, the researchers argue that conservationists should avoid interbreeding the two species in captivity.

這一新發(fā)現(xiàn)可能會對它們的保護產生重大影響。除了引進物種特有的保護計劃外，研究人員還認為，自然資源保護主義者應該避免在圈養(yǎng)的情況下讓這兩個物種雜交。