Research overview: convergence and the puma affinity of Miracinonyx

This overview examines the evolutionary relationships of Miracinonyx and the now well-supported conclusion that its cheetah-like form arose through convergence rather than common ancestry with the true cheetah. Although early researchers were struck by the resemblance to Acinonyx, ancient-DNA studies revealed that Miracinonyx is most closely related to the puma, with both belonging to a New World group that also gave rise to the jaguarundi and influenced cheetah-lineage history. The survey reviews the morphological similarities that fooled early workers, the genetic evidence that resolved the question, and what this case reveals about how similar ecological pressures, here the pursuit of fast prey across open terrain, can sculpt unrelated cats into nearly identical forms. It frames Miracinonyx as a textbook example of convergent evolution among felids.