The giant panda's habit of holding food in its 'hands' as it eats is an example of an anatomical adaptation to the problem of feeding on bamboo.

In human and other mammals the sesamoid bone is simply one of the many small bones that make up the wrist. In the giant panda, the sesamoid bone has been specially enlarged to form a sixth digit. It protrudes from the animal's palm like a thumb and is opposable, allowing the panda to bring its 'thumb' against its first digit in a pincer-like movement. The dexterity afforded by this pseudothumb, combined with curved claws, used to hook culms towards the mouth, enable it to tackle bamboo stems and shoots with ease.