Agriarctos beatrix - a prehistoric giant panda have been discovered in Spain

[Luis Azevedo Rodrigues <laz.rodrigues@gmail.com>]

No paper references and it's mammal stuff but...

"Fossilised remains of a primitive panda species genetically related to 
China’s endangered giant panda have been discovered in Spain, a new 
study reveals.
A team of Spanish researchers, which included experts from the National 
Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), found that the species 
Agriarctos beatrix was a small plantigrade omnivore related to the giant 
pandas.
The fossilised remains of the species have been discovered at the site 
of Nombrevilla 2 in the province of Zaragoza. Researchers at the 
MNCN-CSIC and the University of Valencia suggest that the creature lived 
during the Miocene period, 11 million years ago.
“This kind of bear was small, even smaller than the specimens of Malayan 
sun bear, the smallest found today. Must not exceed 60 kilograms of 
weight,” said Juan Abella, a researcher in the department of 
paleobiology at MNCN-CSIC and first author of the study, published in 
the journal Geological Survey.
Although it is difficult to know their outward appearance because only 
fossilised teeth were found, scientists say the animal would have had a 
dark coat with white spots located mainly on the chest, around the eyes 
and possibly close to the tail.
“This pattern is considered primitive for the bears, similar to the 
giant panda, in fact, have such large spots that appear to be white with 
black spots,” Abella said."

http://www.spainreview.net/index.php/2012/05/15/a-prehistoric-giant-panda-have-been-discovered-in-spain/

--
Luis Azevedo Rodrigues
Paleontologist (PhD)/Science communicator/Teacher
Publico Newspaper invited blog/Science Blogs Brazil
Ciencia Ao Natural - cienciaaonatural.net
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independent.academia.edu/LuisARodrigues