πΎ Ancient DNA rewrites 'American cheetah' history
Scientists used ancient DNA to reveal the extinct Miracinonyx trumani was not a cheetah, but a close relative of the modern puma. This animal lived across North America from roughly 2.5 million to 16,000 years ago, with fossils found in Wyoming and the Yukon. Genetic analysis showed the lineages split about 2.6 million years ago, proving similarities were convergent evolution. Furthermore, northern populations apparently ate fish in the Arctic, adapting their diet widely. The species eventually vanished around 16,000 years ago, showing gradual genetic decline. πΎ