Lazarus taxon
Quick Summary
A Lazarus taxon is a species or group of organisms that reappears after being presumed extinct. This phenomenon is named after the biblical Lazarus, who was resurrected by Jesus.12
In biology, a Lazarus taxon is a species that seems to vanish from the fossil record for a period, only to reappear later in younger rock layers. This suggests that the species was not truly extinct but perhaps survived in a limited, undetected population or in a different environment. The study of fossils helps document the history of life and evolution, and Lazarus taxa are fascinating examples of how our understanding of past life can be revised.31
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