Ailurus fulgens F. G. Cuvier, 1825 - Red Panda

There are two subspecies recognized under this species, namely: Himalayan Red Panda A. f. fulgens and Styan's Red Panda A. f. styani. However, there are disputes over treating these as subspecies or as species. Previous name A. f. refulgens was used as another subspecies name for A. f. styani wrongly, which is now a nomen nudum (in other words this name A. f. refulgens does not exist).

Melursus ursinus Shaw, 1791 - Sloth Bear

It is sometimes called as Labiated Bear due to its long lower lip and pallate, though it is never used/recognized as an alternative name. There are two subspecies recognized viz. "Indian" Sloth Bear M. u. ursinus and "Sri Lankan" Sloth Bear M. u. inornatus. There are taxonomic disputes over putting this species under Ursinus or Melursinus.

Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758 - Himalayan Brown Bear

Brown Bear has very wide distribution in palearctic and nearctic reagion. There are as many as 16 extant subspecies and 5 extinct subspecies. Ursus arctos isabellinus precisely is the subspecies to be called as Himalayan Brown Bear.


This species is listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).