In the Bluefish Caves and a mine site in northern Yukon, bones initially believed to be from an ice-age puma or cougar were reexamined through DNA analysis conducted by Molly Cassatt-Johnstone, a lab technician at the University of California. The findings revealed that these creatures were actually cheetahs, specifically the extinct American cheetah known as Yukon Miracinonyx.
The discovery, detailed in a recent paper in Current Biology by Cassatt-Johnstone and collaborators, sheds new light on the diet and habitat of these ice-age cats. Contrary to prior assumptions, the American cheetah was not solely a predator of pronghorn antelope in grassy plains but also thrived in the Arctic tundra of Beringia.
To understand how the Yukon cheetahs survived in this region, stable isotope analysis was employed by researchers from Canada and the U.S. This method, akin to forensic analysis, unraveled that these ancient cats primarily feasted on fish, a behavior uncommon among felines then and now. The study’s lead, Matthew Wooller of the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility, emphasized the intricate puzzle-solving nature of their investigative work.
Paleontologists like Julie Meachen, who specializes in Late Pleistocene mammalian carnivores, expressed astonishment at the Yukon cheetahs’ unique dietary preference for salmon. The study also revealed that Miracinonyx was genetically closer to North American pumas than African cheetahs, with a limited gene pool likely contributing to their extinction.
Grant Zazula, a Yukon paleontologist, advocates for renaming this distinct northern population from ‘American Cheetah’ to ‘Yukon Cheetah,’ highlighting the ongoing revelations in paleontological research. The discovery underscores the significance of even the smallest bone findings in unraveling the mysteries of prehistoric life.