At 12:07 AM 4/29/95 -0500, Patrick McClanahan wrote:

	"Ursine" is a colorful, entertaining term, and I would normally
applaud its use. However, in this context, it seems to directly identify
Genma as a bear. Pandas actually belong to the raccoon family (Procyonidae?
I vaguely recall raccoons being _Procyon lotor_), and I think the
scientifically correct noun would be "the spotted procyine," or something
to that effect.

  The term would probably be "procyonid," but pandas (including red pandas)
are classed as members of the subfamily Ailurinae.  The Giant Panda is
"Ailuropoda melanoleuca" so perhaps Genma should be referred to as an
"ailuropod".  Although there is general agreement that the Red Panda is a
member of order Procyonidae, there is dispute as to whether the Great Panda
should be in the same family or whether it should be grouped with bears.  

                                                            dml