The primary diet of pandas consists mainly of bamboo. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are unique among bears, as they have adapted to consume this fibrous plant, which constitutes around 99% of their diet. They can eat a variety of bamboo species, and need to consume large quantities—approximately 26 to 84 pounds per day—to meet their nutritional needs due to bamboo's low energy content. Pandas have strong, specialized jaws and teeth that allow them to efficiently break down bamboo. While they are technically carnivorous and possess the digestive system of a carnivore, their reliance on bamboo has made them functionally herbivorous.