东北三省三校2024届高三下学期第一次联合考试（一模）英语试题（音频暂未更新）试题详情
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In contrast to the brightly coloured species of birds, most of mammals are browns and greys, but with a small number of exceptions, of which the most famous. is the giant panda. We've had some initial assumption about why they had their markings, but we need to confirm the reason for its mysterious pattern.
Viewed up close in a zoo, the giant panda is a strikingly notable mix of a white bear with black shoulders and legs, and an extraordinary face with black fur around the eyes and ears. By comparing with other carnivores （食肉动物）， we learned that carnivores with white backs are found in snowy environments, and those with dark legs and shoulders are found in shady habitats. This suggested that the fur was an adaptation to be self-protective in different environments.
Nowadays, giant pandas are confined to forests in western China, where they live on their own and there are relatively few predators （捕食者）. We are to confirm that the sort of self-protection is effective against giant pandas' former predators from the days when they ranged right across China into Vietnam.
By comparing the amount of light reflected from the giant panda's fur with natural objects in the background, it's clear that their black fur patches （斑纹） match dark shades and tree trunks, whereas their white patches match bright leaves and snow. Also, pale brown, or muddy fur matches the color of the ground. This provides a medium color which bridges the gap between the very dark and very light visual elements in the natural habitat. Besides, a second form of self-protection lies in something termed misorderly colors and patterns-in which highly visible patches break up its outline by mixing with patches in the background.
Giant pandas show this form of defensive outline, especially at longer viewing distances of at least 60 meters away. At these distances, the giant panda becomes hardly identifiable as the black fur patches go with the background, dark rocks and tree trunks.
Although giant pandas in zoos are highly notable to us, it is because we see them up close and surrounded by artificial backgrounds. But when in the wild and at a distance, our research shows that they are beautifully protective to avoid detection.
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