Ailuropodinae is a subfamily of Ursidae that contains only one extant species, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) of China.

The fossil record of this group has shown that various species of pandas were more widespread across the Holarctic, with species found in places such as Europe, much of Asia, North America and even Africa.

[5][6] Ever since the giant panda was first described to science, they have been a source of taxonomic confusion, having been variously classified as a member of Procyonidae,[7][8]: 24 [9] Ursidae,[10][11][12] Ailuridae,[13] or even their own family Ailuropodidae.

[16][17] Any similarities between ailuropodines and ailurids are likely due to convergent evolution as the fossil record has shown the "false thumb" has been required independently for different purposes.

[19] The ailuropodines are divided into two tribes the extinct Agriotheriini and Ailuropodini; the following taxonomy below is after Abella et al. (2012):