A discovery in northern Yukon initially thought to be ice-age puma or cougar bones was reevaluated through DNA analysis by the University of California. The study, led by lab technician Molly Cassatt-Johnstone, identified the bones as belonging to the extinct American cheetah, known as Yukon Miracinonyx. This revelation, detailed in a paper published in Current Biology, shed new light on the cheetah’s diet and habitat.
Contrary to previous beliefs that the American cheetah hunted pronghorns in grassy plains, researchers found evidence of these creatures in the Arctic tundra of Beringia. Through stable isotope analysis, it was revealed that Yukon cheetahs had a unique diet primarily consisting of fish, a behavior uncommon in cats past and present. This unexpected discovery prompted researchers to reevaluate the evolutionary adaptations and survival strategies of these ancient felines.
The study suggested that the abundance of Yukon salmon played a crucial role in sustaining the cheetah population, offering a readily available food source amidst competition with larger predators like Beringian lions and giant bears. Genetic analysis showed that Miracinonyx was more closely related to North American pumas than African cheetahs, with a limited gene pool indicating low population numbers and potential challenges in adaptation.
Yukon paleontologist Grant Zazula proposed renaming this distinct northern population from ‘American Cheetah’ to ‘Yukon Cheetah’ to reflect its unique habitat and dietary preferences. The findings underscored the significance of continuous exploration and analysis in paleontology, revealing new insights into the ancient inhabitants of the region.