Pandas lived in Spain, say scientists

[xchrom]

http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/11/15/inenglish/1353004806_350202.html

Pandas are not so closely connected with China as once was thought, according to a group of Spanish scientists.

A team of paleontologists has identified fossil remains discovered in Spain dating from 11 to 12 million years ago as belonging to the oldest ancestor of today’s pandas yet found.

The group of scientists, headed by Juan Abella of the National Museum of National Sciences and made up of experts from the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology, Madrid’s Complutense University and the University of Valencia, have just revealed their findings in an article published by non-profit science organization PLOS.

The discovery changes the entire evolutionary history of the panda, says Abella.

[OhZone]

1. Oh Sweet Jesus! nt

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thanks. n/t