The scientific name for panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.
This name is derived from Greek and Latin roots. The genus name Ailuropoda translates to ‘cat-foot,’ a reference to the panda’s resemblance to felines in terms of foot structure, while melanoleuca means ‘black and white’ in Greek, describing the panda’s distinctive coloration. There are two recognized subspecies: the giant panda, which is the most well-known, and the red panda, scientifically named Ailurus fulgens.