The 'American Cheetah' Wasn't a Cheetah. New DNA Evidence Shows Just How Wrong Scientists Had It - Gizmodo

“Scientists have long classified a fossil cat from North America as the "American cheetah," but recent DNA analysis shows it was actually a distinct species unrelated to modern cheetahs. The study, published in a peer‑reviewed journal, used mitochondrial DNA extracted from a 12‑million‑year‑old specimen to demonstrate that the creature belonged to a separate lineage of large felids. This revelation corrects a decades‑old taxonomic error and reshapes our understanding of Pleistocene megafauna in the United States. Expert Analysis: The correction underscores the importance of genomic techniques in paleontology, potentially influencing funding priorities for museum collections and fossil research. Accurate species identification can affect conservation messaging and the marketing of wildlife exhibits, which in turn impacts tourism revenue in regions with historic sites.”