EventScientists have shown that the extinct Miracinonyx trumani—once called the American cheetah—lived in the Yukon’s Bluefish Caves, ate fish, and DNA analysis indicates it was not a true cheetah and had low genetic diversity.
A new DNA study reveals that the extinct Miracinonyx trumani, once dubbed the 'American cheetah,' inhabited the Arctic and ate fish, reshaping understanding of its ecology and adaptation to cold climates.
Scientists using DNA and isotope analysis confirmed that bones found in Bluefish Caves and a Yukon mine belong to the extinct American cheetah (Miracinonyx). The study shows these Arctic cats mainly ate fish, especially salmon, and had low genetic diversity, indicating a unique adaptation to Beringian ecosystems.
