AI Insight
A new study published in Current Biology has determined that Miracinonyx trumani, commonly called the "American cheetah," was not actually related to modern cheetahs but was instead more closely related to pumas. Despite their superficial resemblance to African cheetahs with slender bodies and long legs, genetic and morphological analysis reveals a different evolutionary origin. Additionally, evidence shows some populations near the Arctic fed primarily on fish rather than pursuing fast-running prey like pronghorns, contradicting previous assumptions about their hunting behavior.
Why it matters
This finding corrects a long-standing misclassification in paleontology and demonstrates the importance of rigorous phylogenetic analysis over morphological similarity alone. Understanding the true evolutionary relationships and ecological roles of extinct species provides more accurate insights into North American paleoenvironments and the evolution of carnivore diversity.
Understand the Science
With their slender bodies and long front legs, Miracinonyx trumani—often nicknamed the “American cheetah”—was long thought to be a North American analog of the African big cat. But in a new study published in the journal Current Biology, researchers reveal that the extinct cat was more closely related to pumas. Some populations living near the Arctic preyed almost exclusively on fish, challenging the long-held assumption that these “cheetahs” chased fast-running prey, such as pronghorns.
Source: The extinct American 'cheetah' was not a cheetah after all