 | It has been suggested that this article bemerged intoParailurus. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2025. |
| English panda | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Caniformia |
| Family: | Ailuridae |
| Genus: | †Parailurus |
| Species: | †P. anglicus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Parailurus anglicus Dawkins, 1888 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Parailurus anglicus is a one of three species of the extinct genusParailurus.Parailurus anglicus was native to Europe, more specifically theBritish Isles,Slovakia,Romania,Germany, andHungary.[1]Parailurus anglicus was twice the size of modernred pandas, and used to be classified in their genusAilurus until 1899 following a study.
The species was first described in 1888. Its place in theevolutionary tree is debated as it belongs to theailurid family. Modern genetic evidence suggests it belongs inMusteloidea, a clade which includesweasels,skunks, andraccoons.
Parailurus anglicus might have inhabitedconiferous forests, similar to those that modern red pandas live in.[2]Parailurus anglicus' teeth suggested that it was very likelyomnivorous.
Parailurus anglicus was first described byWilliam Boyd Dawkins in 1888, who originally called itAilurus anglicus. The species was found at theRed Crag inEast Anglia.[3]Max Schlosser reclassified the species' genus asParailurus in 1899, following a study of a more complete specimen's dentition from the Baróth-Köpecz locality.[4][2]
Tivadar Kormos described a new species ofParailurus calledParailurus hungaricus in 1939, this species is now a junior synonym forParailurus anglicus.[5]Parailurus anglicus was the first species described in the genusParailurus. The other two species,P. baikalicus andP. tedfordi, were described in 2008 and 2022 respectively.[6][5]
The place ofParailurus anglicus and Ailurids overall in the evolutionary tree has been debated. They were first placed in the familyProcyonidae in the early 20th century for theraccoon's similarity with thered panda. Newer genetic studies in 2005, 2018 and 2021 have placed the Ailurid family in the cladeMusteloidea, which includes Procyonidae,Mustelidae (weasels, minks and relatives) andMephitidae (skunks and stink badgers).[7][8][9]
BecauseParailurus anglicus has been only described by fragmentary remains, its appearance hasn't been well-documented. Other Ailurids provide the general idea of what Parailurus anglicus looked like. Dawkins' specimen was a "battered and worn down" part of the right lower jaw, not giving much information of the appearance ofParailurus anglicus.[3]
A reconstruction by the Czech artist Oldřich Kroupa represented it as extremely similar to the red panda, though with darker and dull fur.[10]Parailurusanglicus was twice the size of a red panda,[1] and probably lived in a similar environment to that of the red panda.[2]
Parailurus anglicus had a much rather distinct dentition when compared to other ailurids. It has a pretty unusual upper fourth premolar, with greater antoposterior length than transverse width.[11] Its teeth suggest it was anomnivorous animal.[12]