American cheetah was actually a puma relative

Scientists have re‑identified the extinct “American cheetah” as a puma‑relative rather than a true cheetah, revealing a surprisingly adaptable hunting strategy. New fossil evidence from the Yukon indicates that northern populations of this large feline survived by incorporating fish into their diet, possibly including salmon, while their southern counterparts continued to hunt primarily on land.

The discovery, based on skeletal remains and isotopic analyses, shows that the species was capable of exploiting diverse ecological niches. In the cooler, riverine environments of the Yukon, the cats likely preyed on fish and other aquatic organisms, whereas in the warmer southern regions they relied on terrestrial prey. This dual feeding strategy suggests a level of dietary flexibility that challenges previous assumptions about the species’ ecological role.

The findings underscore the importance of regional adaptation in the survival of large predators and provide new insights into the life history of a long‑gone North American cat.