The Extinct American 'Cheetah' Was Not a Cheetah After All

The extinct American 'cheetah' was not a cheetah after all

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" ch…

Ancient DNA Reveals Famous Extinct Feline Was Actually Fish Eating Puma

A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has overturned decades of assumptions about Miracinonyx trumani, the extinct predator popularly known as the American cheetah.

The “American Cheetah” Was Actually a Fish-Eating Arctic Puma Relative

An extinct North American cat commonly called the American cheetah was not a true cheetah at all. New genetic evidence shows that it was a close relative of the modern puma—and some populations survived in the Arctic by eating fish. The study, led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, examined ancient DNA […]

This “Cheetah” was actually a Puma—and it hunted fish

The extinct American cheetah wasn’t quite what scientists thought. New DNA evidence reveals its surprising puma connection and a remarkable ability to adapt, even thriving on fish in Arctic regions.An artistic rending of Miracinonyx and the ecosystem they would have lived in. Credit: Julius Csotonyi. Miracinonyx trumani – known as the ‘American cheetah’ – was thought to be the North American analogue of the African big cat. However, a new study …