Throughout a splendidly complicated evolution history of the earth, there have been hundreds of millions of species. Many species have been eliminated by natural laws over a long period of time. Some, however, have gradually adapted to nature through evolution and have continued to this day. Giant panda is one of them. From its early species called Ailurarctos lufengensis, the body size of the panda has evolved from small to large and then small again, spanning a period of about 8 million years.
- 65 million years ago, dinosaurs went extinct.
- 8 million years ago, the early species ( Ailurarctos lufengensis) of giant panda appeared.
- 2 million years ago, Ailuropoda microta appeared.
- 1 million years ago, Ailuropoda melanoleuca baconi, the largest panda species, appeared.
- 12,000 years ago, the existing panda species ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) appeared.