Mummified Cheetahs Found in Saudi Arabia: What It Means for Evolution Studies

The discovery of mummified cheetahs in Saudi Arabia provides rare genetic and fossil evidence of cheetah evolution, migration patterns, and historical distribution across the Arabian Peninsula, offering key insights for wildlife science and conservation studies.

Table of Contents

Context

A groundbreaking study published in January 2026 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment has provided the first physical and genetic evidence of cheetahs inhabiting the Arabian Peninsula over the last 4,000 years.

Key Highlights of the Study

Location: 134 underground caves in Northern Saudi Arabia (near the city of Arar).
Findings: Researchers discovered 7 naturally mummified cheetahs and skeletal remains of 54 others.
Preservation: The arid, stable, and dark microclimate of the caves prevented bacterial decay, creating “natural mummies”—a rarity for large mammals outside of permafrost.
Timeline: Radiocarbon dating shows the remains range from 4,000 years ago to as recently as 120 years ago (late 19th/early 20th century).
The most significant finding is that Saudi Arabia was historically home to two different subspecies of cheetah:
- Asiatic Cheetah : The most recent mummified specimens (approx. 130 years old) are genetically closest to this subspecies.
- Northwest African Cheetah: Surprisingly, the older mummified remains (approx. 2,000–4,000 years old) are genetically linked to this African lineage.