Global InformationAcinonyx kurteni information
"Acinonyx kurteni", or the Linxia cheetah, is a discredited fossil specimen of an extinct cheetah discovered in China. The scientific name was assigned for the skull that was originally described to be that of an extinct species of cheetah, endemic to Asia during the Late Pliocene sub-epoch. It was estimated to have lived around 2.2 to 2.5 Ma BP, existing for approximately 0.3 million years.[1]
The fossil discovery was reported in 2008, and was claimed to be the most primitive Acinonyx lineage so far discovered. Further, the study concluded that the cheetahs originated in the Old World, not the New World as previously believed.[2][3] It was thought to share some features with the modern cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, such as in having enlarged sinuses for air intake during sprinting, while its teeth show primitive features.[4]
After a long suspicion of the authenticity of the fossil, it was finally accepted as a forgery in 2012.
- ^ "Ancient Cheetah Fossil Points to Old World Roots?". National Geographic Magazine. 2008-12-29. Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ Christiansen P, Mazák JH (January 13, 2009). "A primitive Late Pliocene cheetah, and evolution of the cheetah lineage". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 106 (2): 512–515. doi:10.1073/pnas.0810435106. PMC 2626734. PMID 19114651. (Retracted, see doi:10.1073/pnas.1211510109)
- ^ Randerson, James (December 29, 2008). "Fossilised skull suggests cheetahs evolved in Asia not Americas". The Guardian. London. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "Big cats traced to Asia, not America: Ancient cheetah skull discovered in China challenges old theories". Retrieved February 22, 2009.