Red pandas are native to the high forests of Asia.

小熊猫原产于亚洲的高山森林。

They are only a little bigger than a house cat and considered to be endangered.

它们只比家猫稍大一点，被认为是濒危动物。

Scientists reported last month that not all red pandas belong to the same species.

科学家上个月报告说，并非所有的小熊猫都属于同一物种。

There are two different species of this animal, not just one, a study found.

一项研究发现，这种动物有两种不同的种类，而不仅仅是一种。

The scientists reported finding major differences in three genetic markers between Chinese red pandas and Himalayan red pandas.

科学家们报告发现，中国小熊猫和喜马拉雅小熊猫在三个遗传标记上存在重大差异。

Scientists identified the markers after studying DNA from 65 of the creatures.

科学家在研究了其中65种生物的DNA后，确定了这些标记。

DNA carries genetic information for the development, growth and reproduction of living things.

DNA携带着生物发育、生长和繁殖的遗传信息。

Documenting the existence of two separate species could help guide efforts for protecting red pandas, scientists added.

科学家补充说，记录两个独立物种的存在可能有助于指导保护小熊猫的工作。

Chinese red pandas live in northern Myanmar, as well as southeastern Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China.

中国的小熊猫生活在缅甸北部、西藏东南部、四川和云南。

Himalayan red pandas are native to Nepal, India, Bhutan and southern Tibet in China, the researchers said.

研究人员说，喜玛拉雅小熊猫原产于尼泊尔、印度、不丹和中国西藏南部。

Conservation biologists Yibo Hu and Fuwen Wei led the study.

保护生物学家胡一波和魏福文领导了这项研究。

Their findings were published in the journal Science Advances.

他们的发现发表在《科学进展》杂志上。

"To conserve the genetic uniqueness of the two species,

“为了保护这两个物种的遗传独特性，

we should avoid their interbreeding in captivity," Hu said.

我们应该避免它们在圈养环境中杂交，”胡说。

"Interbreeding between species may harm the genetic adaptations already established for their local habitat environment."

“物种间的杂交可能会损害已经为当地栖息地环境建立的基因适应。”

Scientists had earlier suggested there were two species of red panda.

早些时候，科学家曾认为有两种小熊猫。

But the new study was the first to provide the genetic information necessary to permit such a judgment.

但这项新的研究是第一次给这个判断提供了必要的基因信息支持。

International experts estimate a total population of around 10,000 red pandas in the wild.

国际专家估计，野生小熊猫的总数约为1万只。

The two species differ in coloration and skull shape.

这两个物种在颜色和头骨形状上有所不同。

The Himalayan red panda is the rarer of the two.

喜马拉雅的小熊猫是这两种动物中比较罕见的一种。

Major threats to red pandas include deforestation and habitat loss.

对小熊猫的主要威胁包括森林砍伐和栖息地丧失。

While they have similar names, red pandas and giant pandas are not closely related.

虽然它们有相似的名字，但是小熊猫和大熊猫并不是近亲。

Giant pandas are one of the world's eight bear species.

大熊猫是世界八大熊类之一。

Red pandas are sometimes called living fossils because they have no close living relatives.

小熊猫有时被称为活化石，因为它们没有近亲。

They are the only remaining member of their mammalian family.

它们是同类哺乳动物家族中仅存的成员。

I'm John Russell.

约翰·罗素为您播报。