Prehistoric Yukon ‘Cheetahs’ Were Fish Eaters, Not Really Cheetahs at All: Study
Ancient DNA and isotopes show the extinct cat was a puma relative that ranged into the Arctic and ate fish in the north.
- New research published Friday in Current Biology reveals the extinct Miracinonyx trumani, long called the "American cheetah," was actually a puma relative, according to genetic analysis by Molly Cassatt-Johnstone of the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Paleontologists originally classified M. trumani as a cheetah due to its slender frame and large nasal cavities; DNA evidence now confirms the species diverged from a common puma ancestor about 2.6 million years ago.
- While southern populations hunted herbivores, Yukon fossils from 30,000 years ago show these cats subsisted primarily on fish, a unique "fishing niche" Yukon paleontologist Grant Zazula said allowed them to thrive in the harsh Arctic environment.
- Genetic analysis reveals M. trumani possessed non-functional circadian rhythm genes, potentially aiding adaptation to extreme Arctic daylight cycles; Zazula described the finding as a "complete detective story" illustrating how the species carved out a unique survival strategy.
- National Geographic Explorer Julie Meachen, who co-authored the study, called the findings the first published record of Miracinonyx in Canada, expanding the species' known range and proving it was far more adaptable than previously assumed.
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New Study: DNA From Wyoming's Prehistoric Cat Could Save Cheetahs, Lions, Tigers
In a new study released Friday, scientists say DNA extracted from the bones of a prehistoric "American cheetah" found in Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave could help save struggling lion and tiger populations. “We were shocked with the results,” said one biologist.
Thousands of years ago, a large cat named Miracinonyx trumani lived in today's North America. By analysing the genes, it is now possible to clarify not only their origin, but also their habitat and the nature of their diet.
Ancient DNA Rewrites Story of Enigmatic ‘American Cheetah’
For several decades, paleontologists have described Miracinonyx trumani -- an extinct species of cheetah-like felid that roamed the North American prairies and steppe terrains more than 13,000 years ago -- as North America’s answer to the African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). The post Ancient DNA Rewrites Story of Enigmatic ‘American Cheetah’ appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Science Writing, 4 Sep (EFE).- A scientific study has found that the so-called ‘American cheetah’ (Miracinonyx trumani), an extinct predator who lived in North America in the Pleistocene, was, in fact, closely related to the puma and not to the African cheetah. The study, published this Friday in Current Biology and led by the University of [...] The entry Ancient DNA reveals that the ‘American cheetah’ was not a cheetah was first published in H…
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