Pandashaveawhitecoatwithblackfuraroundtheireyes,ontheirears,muzzle,legsandshoulders.Theuniquephysicalfeaturesofthespeciesincludebroad,flatmolarsandanenlargedwristbonethatfunctionsasanopposablethumb-bothoftheseadaptationsareusedforholding,crushingandeatingbamboo.
Giantpandasareclassifiedasbearsandhavethedigestivesystemofacarnivore,buttheyhaveadaptedtoavegetariandietanddependalmostexclusivelyonbambooasafoodsource.
Pandaslivemainlyonthegroundbuthavetheabilitytoclimbtreesaswell.Whilethespeciesdoesnothibernate,itoftenrelocatestoloweraltitudesinthewinterandspring.