A discovery in northern Yukon initially pointed towards ice-age pumas or cougars based on bones found in the Bluefish Caves and a mining site. However, a DNA analysis conducted by the University of California revealed a surprising twist. The examination, led by Molly Cassatt-Johnstone, a recent graduate at the time, indicated that the Yukon bones did not belong to pumas but to cheetahs.
Grant Zazula, a Yukon paleontologist, vividly recalls his astonishment upon receiving the news that the supposed cougars were actually cheetahs. Zazula highlighted the significant advancement in genetic analysis from 25 years ago when such studies were considered akin to science fiction.
Cassatt-Johnstone’s identification of a Yukon Miracinonyx, the extinct American cheetah, marked a milestone. A recently published paper in Current Biology, for which she is the lead author, delves into the ice-age cat’s dietary habits and habitat range.
Researchers were taken aback by the presence of American cheetahs in the Arctic tundra, contrary to the belief that they primarily hunted pronghorns in grassy plains. Beringia, the land connecting Asia and North America, including parts of Russia, Alaska, and the Yukon, served as a critical area for the cheetahs’ survival.
To unravel this mystery, a collaborative study involving experts from Canada and the U.S. employed stable isotope analysis to examine the cheetahs’ diet and environmental conditions. The findings indicated that Yukon cheetahs predominantly fed on fish, a behavior uncommon among past and present-day felines.
Paleontologists like Julie Meachen were astonished by the revelations, emphasizing the unique behavior of Yukon cheetahs compared to their counterparts in other regions. The study’s genetic analysis revealed the close relationship between Miracinonyx and North American pumas, shedding light on the species’ low genetic diversity and potential factors contributing to their extinction.
Zazula suggests renaming this distinct northern population from ‘American Cheetah’ to ‘Yukon Cheetah’ in recognition of their specialized adaptation to the region. The discovery underscores the ongoing potential for new insights from even the smallest bone findings in the Yukon, showcasing the ever-evolving narrative of prehistoric life.
