Initially, bones discovered in the Bluefish Caves and at a mining location in northern Yukon were thought to be from an ice-age puma or cougar. However, DNA analysis conducted by the University of California revealed a different story. The testing was carried out by Molly Cassatt-Johnstone, a former lab technician who had recently completed her undergraduate studies. The Yukon bones marked some of her first analysis work. Upon initial examination, Cassatt-Johnstone realized the bones did not resemble pumas at all, leading her to joke about making a significant error.
Yukon paleontologist Grant Zazula vividly recalls his surprise upon receiving the message that the cougars were, in fact, cheetahs. He remarked on the evolution of genetic analysis over the past twenty-five years, highlighting its transition from a futuristic concept to a routine practice in studying permafrost-preserved bones from the Yukon.
Identifying a Yukon Miracinonyx, also known as the extinct American cheetah, made Cassatt-Johnstone the pioneer in a study published in Current Biology, shedding new insights on the creature’s diet and habitat.
‘A Full Investigative Tale’
Traditionally, researchers believed the American cheetah, resembling today’s agile cheetahs, had adapted to pursue pronghorns across grasslands. Discovering them in the midst of the Arctic tundra perplexed paleontologists. Cassatt-Johnstone mentioned the absence of pronghorns in Beringia, the region connecting Asia and North America, which includes present-day Russia’s easternmost area, Alaska, and the Yukon.
The study team, involving collaborators from Canada and the U.S., employed stable isotope analysis to unravel how Miracinonyx thrived in the region. By examining bone fragments from the cheetah’s limbs, researchers aimed to pinpoint its dietary preferences and environmental influences.
The analysis revealed that Yukon cheetahs predominantly feasted on fish, a behavior uncommon among historical and contemporary felines. Researchers attributed this dietary choice to the ecosystem dynamics, emphasizing the puzzle-solving nature of their investigation.
Salmon Enthusiasts in the Yukon
For paleontologists like Julie Meachen, who specializes in Late Pleistocene mammalian carnivores and extensively studies this species in Wyoming, the Yukon cheetah’s distinct behavior was a revelation. In a region teeming with larger predators like Beringian lions and scimitar cats, opting for abundant Yukon salmon likely ensured the cheetahs’ survival.
The study’s DNA analysis revealed that Miracinonyx was genetically closer to North American pumas than African cheetahs. Additionally, the research indicated low genetic diversity in the cheetah population, potentially contributing to their extinction.
Zazula proposed renaming this unique northern population from ‘American Cheetah’ to ‘Yukon Cheetah,’ emphasizing the significance of each bone’s potential to unveil a new chapter in the region’s paleontological history.
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