What is Lazarus taxon?
Lazarus taxon is an animal or a plant that disappears from a fossil record, probably because it is extinct and then reappears. In some cases, an animal that is considered completely extinct, seen and described alive, sometimes millions of years after the last fossil evidence of the species has disappeared. This illustrates the unreliable fossil record; A special set of circumstances must be connected to fossil to form, which makes fossilization extremely rare. In order to identify a fossil record as a hospital taxon, it must have a significant gap, suggesting that the animal seemed to be re -re -raising for any reason. Among examples of taxa Lazarus, which believe they are extinct that have shown alive include Takahe in New Zealand, woodpecker on Blood Diablo, buckwheat Mount Diablo and coelacanth.
In most cases. When the Lazarus taxon is discovered alive after it was previously considered extinct, it can be in a critical state. Individual representatives of the species usually survive,Because they have found an isolated area such as the far valley where Takahe was found, and the gene fund can be extremely small. If the animal's habitat is disturbed, it could prove to be the permanent end of the species.
When taxon Lazarus is found alive and kicking, there is often a reason for great excitement among scientists. Lazarus taxa is biologically interesting because people lead to speculation about what happened to an animal or plant and why, and because they can reveal traces of previous times of life on Earth. Many people also consider the discovery of species that were considered extinct to be simply exciting, just as they had; The existence of taxa Lazarus shows that the country always has several surprises in the store.
Taxon Elvis or Elvis is a closely related concept. Elvis is similar; Due to convergent development, it has developed a similar look and lifestyle as an extinct species. In general, a taxoNY Elvis are not biologically associated with their extinct counterparts. Sometimes Taxon Elvis can be incorrectly identified as a Lazarus taxon until research has revealed the truth.