Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Ancient North American Cat Was Not a Cheetah, Study Finds

A feline predator once called the 'American cheetah' (Miracinonyx trumani) roamed North America during the Pleistocene epoch. However, recent fossil analysis suggests this extinct cat was more closely related to the modern puma than to true cheetahs.

Analysis of four fossils indicates Miracinonyx trumani is evolutionarily closer to pumas, diverging around 2.6 million years ago, compared to cheetahs, from which it diverged around 4.7 million years ago. This challenges the assumption that its slender build was a sign of cheetah lineage.

Scientists previously believed the American cheetah's traits mirrored modern cheetahs, leading to its misnomer. Earlier DNA evidence in 2005 hinted at a puma-like ancestor, a theory now supported by new genetic data.

The study suggests the cat's similar body shape to cheetahs is convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

Dietary analysis of the fossils revealed a flexible diet. A specimen from Wyoming (around 23,000 years ago) likely ate pronghorn. Yukon specimens (around 31,000 years ago) may have consumed fish.

Genetic analysis indicated adaptations to northern latitudes, including mutations affecting circadian rhythm regulation. The absence of a sour taste receptor gene points to a specialized diet, a trait shared with other ancient cat species studied.

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